The Hornets swingman broke Keegan Murray’s NBA rookie record for three-pointers, making his 207th Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Knueppel connected on five threes in the first half and then broke the record in the third quarter.
It took Murray 80 games in 2022-23 to establish the record – and Knueppel just 59 to surpass it.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry holds the single-season NBA record with 402 threes.
Knueppel, who entered the night shooting 43.6 percent from beyond the arc and leading the league in threes, broke the record off an assist from Sion James, his college teammate at Duke.
Knueppel is a contender for NBA Rookie of the Year along with his former college teammate and roommate Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick of the Dallas Mavericks.
He has also helped propel the long-suffering Hornets into playoff contention with 22 games left.
Charlotte has not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season.
“It’s what elevates our whole culture when you have a guy that’s that good, but that humble, no ego – it becomes contagious throughout your whole organisation,” Hornets coach Charles Lee told CGTN Sports Scene after Knueppel eclipsed 200 threes on Tuesday night.
Knueppel has been a perfect fit in second-year coach Lee’s offense alongside playmaker LaMelo Ball, using his basketball IQ to find open spots on the floor – a skill he attributes to playing in his father’s men’s league against taller competition beginning as an eighth grader growing up in Milwaukee.
Knueppel has thrived as a catch-and-shoot player with 93 percent of his threes this season coming off assists entering Thursday night.
He has turned heads across the league with his high shooting percentage.
Curry, the NBA’s career leader in threes, made 166 on 380 attempts as a rookie in with the Warriors in 80 games in 2009-10.
Knueppel entered Thursday night having attempted 461 threes.
“He can obviously shoot the ball at a high level,” Curry said after a recent game against the Hornets.
“You can’t really leave him open at all as he has such a quick release and shoots with confidence,” he added.
“And his playmaking is very underrated. His game just suits the NBA style, whether it’s fast-paced or a slowed-down possession game.”
Knueppel surpassed Donovan Mitchell, who is third on the list of threes made by a rookie, in a loss to the Cavaliers on February 20. (AP)
Edited by Tony Sabine
