The runner-up in the Rookie of the Year race this past season, Kon Knueppel, had about as accomplished of a first pro year with the Charlotte Hornets as anyone in the organization could have hoped for, putting together one of the most efficient rookie campaigns in recent NBA history.

Heading into his second year in the league, Knueppel has already established himself as one of the NBA's best 50 to 55 players and one of the best shooters on the planet. He is an incredibly malleable movement shooter, a connective and snappy passer and decision-maker with the ball, and has been a true star in his role so far with Charlotte.

Knueppel can play in virtually any scheme or lineup and, to me, has the type of additive modern NBA skill set that translates directly to winning basketball.

So how does Knueppel up the ante in year two and potentially push himself into the All-Star or even All-NBA conversation? The exciting part for Charlotte is that despite everything Knueppel already does at an extremely high level, there are still several areas where he can improve to take a sophomore leap and become one of the main reasons the Hornets finally end their postseason drought.

No. 1: Getting to the rim more often

Knueppel is such a polished player in so many areas offensively, but unfortunately for him, most of his weaknesses on that end can be traced back to his physical limitations and athletic tools. That leads directly to his downhill driving game.

The 21-year-old is not a great downhill threat at the moment, and it starts with his lack of an explosive first step and inability to consistently turn the corner as effectively or frequently as you would want from a three-level scoring guard.

Knueppel shot a solid 65% at the rim this past season, which is around average among NBA wings. The bigger concern is his volume there. Only 21% of his overall shot attempts during his rookie season came at the rim, which is quite low for an NBA wing.

Back in early July, I wrote about where Brandon Miller is as a player, getting into the weeds of his game and the areas where he still needs to improve. Interestingly, Knueppel and Miller share many of the same offensive deficiencies, which speaks to some of the current skill-set redundancies on Charlotte's roster. Nonetheless, it is a similarity between the Hornets' two best players worth noting.

Knueppel is most proficient at getting to the basket on straight-line drives or by attacking closeouts. He is also highly effective playing off two feet, something Knueppel himself has said helps even out the playing field athletically and works to his advantage.

Kon plays with excellent patience around the basket when he gets down there and has the wherewithal to utilize bump fades from 5 to 7 feet out, along with a nice turnaround game from that same general area.

Adding more of those looks to his shot diet would benefit Knueppel as he continues expanding his scoring game throughout his career.

In the moments when Knueppel gets among the trees and encounters rim-protecting bigs inside the paint, he has some quality counters in his bag, particularly with his shot fakes. His frame allows him to absorb contact on those drives, and he drew 2.3 fouls per game last season, slightly above average for his position. 

That is a number to watch and one he can continue to tick up in year two.

No. 2: Expanding his creation ability

While Knueppel is not a primary ball handler and should not be used as one, unlocking another level in his ability as a creator would really benefit his teammates and Charlotte's outlook this upcoming season.

The primary reason Knueppel struggles to generate paint touches is his lack of a dynamic handle. It is not particularly shifty, and he struggles to create separation with his dribble against ball pressure.

Pair that with his lack of high-end burst and speed, and Knueppel does not have the physical tools that most NBA guards rely on to get past defenders.

That is not really Knueppel's game, either. He is not someone who consistently breaks down a defense or gets a bucket in isolation without a screen helping create an advantage for him. He can, however, operate effectively in ball-screen actions, make good decisions with the ball, and has shown nice touch as a lob passer.

One area I would like to see Knueppel explore more is his pull-up game, both from three and in the mid-range. Kon attempted 267 pull-up jumpers as a rookie and posted a 56.6% effective field goal percentage on those shots, which is excellent efficiency.

That is a form of creation that does not require simply breaking defenders down off the dribble, and one Knueppel can utilize more frequently.

If given more on-ball opportunities with LaMelo Ball no longer on the roster, Knueppel's 15.7% assist percentage could also rise with slightly higher usage. Cutting down on his 2.0 turnovers per game would also be ideal for both Knueppel and Charlotte's offense.

No. 3: Becoming more disruptive defensively

The notion that Knueppel is a negative defender is just not accurate. Can he get better on that end? Of course. But this past season, Knueppel was generally a slightly below-average to neutral defender on a nightly basis when guarding players around his size.

He understands where he needs to be within Charlotte's coverages and is typically positioned well.

Again, his biggest limitations on this side of the court come down to his physical tools. Knueppel has the frame and strong base to avoid being overwhelmed by most opponents, but quicker guards and wings can absolutely beat him off the dribble a few times per game.

Like many of Charlotte's guards, Knueppel is also not much of an event creator defensively. He does not apply a ton of ball pressure and finished his rookie season with just a 0.4% block rate and 0.9% steal rate. Raising those numbers in any capacity and finding ways to create more disruption should be an area of emphasis for Knueppel heading into year two.

His screen navigation, both on and off the ball, is another aspect of his defensive game that needs work. Knueppel can be a step slow getting through actions at times, while his ability to defend in space can also leave him vulnerable to being targeted, particularly when he is in foul trouble.

There is an obvious ceiling for Knueppel defensively because of his athletic limitations, but he does not need to become an elite defender to take another step as a player on this end. If he competes hard, communicates well, and creates slightly more chaos defensively in his sophomore year in Charlotte, it would be difficult to ask for much more.

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