Hornets to start preseason without last year's league-leading three-point shooter Kon Knipel
Charlotte Hornets will be without Kon Knipel, who suffered a left ankle tendon injury, for the entire preseason. Veteran Grant Williams was also injured in training.
NBA club Charlotte Hornets will have to manage without their key player Kon Knipel for all four preseason games. The 21-year-old player sustained a left ankle tendon injury during offseason training, and his condition will only be reassessed in the first week of the regular season.
Last season Knipel became the first rookie in NBA history to lead the entire league in made three-pointers, hitting 273 shots from beyond the arc. He averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, shooting three-pointers at a 42.5 percent clip.
Bigger role ahead
This season Knipel is expected to take on an even more significant role for the team, after LaMelo Ball was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves over the summer. The Hornets will open their new regular season on October 21 on the road against the Brooklyn Nets, though it remains unclear whether Knipel will be ready to return to the court by then.
Veteran Hornets player Grant Williams is dealing with a similar injury — a tendon issue in his right ankle. He will also sit out all four preseason games, with his condition to be reassessed in the first week of the regular season. Over seven NBA seasons, Williams has averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
