Duke’s Kon Knueppel draws parallels with former Warriors’ Klay Thompson: “I would love to play like Klay"
Duke guard Kon Knueppel gave fans a glimpse into his world as he expressed his thoughts on the players who influenced his game. A clip from an interview with basketball analyst Kevin O'Connor was shared on social media. Knueppel talked about the way he modeled aspects of his game after some of the NBA’s most respected stars.
On Monday, O'Connor posted a snippet from the interview on Instagram. He asked Knueppel about the players he compared himself to, and mentioned former Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson.
“I try not to compare myself to anybody,” Knueppel said. “I try to watch a lot of different players and take stuff from them. I always say Klay (Thompson) because I love how Klay plays. I would love to play like Klay, just how he’s so efficient and his movement.”
Knueppel, who has been praised for his high basketball IQ and deep range, admires Thompson’s consistency and technical precision. Knueppel shot 40.6% from beyond the arc in 39 games played last season.
“He’s shooting the ball the same even if his feet aren’t facing the right way, his shoulders are,” Knueppel said. “And just the way he used to defend when he was younger before the injuries.”
Thompson built a reputation not only as one of the league’s purest shooters, but also as a lockdown perimeter defender.
Knueppel’s acknowledgment of both elements of Thompson’s game hinted at his desire to be more than just a scorer. Thompson was not the only NBA player Knueppel drew inspiration from. He also mentioned former Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler as another role model.
“Jimmy Butler, I’d say I just love how he’s patient,” Knueppel said. “He’s just a really good two-foot finisher and how he uses his shot fakes in the lane. Those are the guys I always watched.”
Knueppel’s approach to learning from NBA veterans reflected a mature understanding of the game. Since he officially declared for the 2025 NBA draft, his stock rose. After a strong showing at the combine in May, scouts and analysts have taken notice. Some mock drafts projected him as a top 10 pick.
NBA analyst shares big news about Kon Knueppel ahead of draft
Kon Knueppel is making major headlines as the 2025 NBA draft approaches. While Duke enjoyed a strong 2024-25 campaign and reached the Final Four, its title hopes ended with a loss to the Houston Cougars. However, Knueppel emerged as one of the program’s brightest stars.
On June 1, Hoops HQ’s Krysten Peek reported that teams with top five picks, including the Utah Jazz (No. 5) and Charlotte Hornets (No. 4), showed significant interest in the versatile guard.
“Teams like the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets,” Peek wrote. “Are showing interest in the versatile guard and like his ability to seamlessly slide in alongside a star, ball-dominant player like Flagg and still find ways to positively impact the game.”
The Hornets and Jazz are showing interest in drafting Kon Knueppel within the top 5, per
@krystenpeek
"Teams like the Utah Jazz (No. 5) and Charlotte Hornets (No. 4) are showing interest in the versatile guard (Kon Knueppel) and like his ability to seamlessly slide in alongside a star, ball-dominant player like Cooper Flagg and still find ways to positively impact the game."
(Via http://buff.ly/soH44R4)
In his lone season with the Blue Devils, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on 47.9% shooting. His performance led the Duke to an ACC Tournament title, and he secured tournament MVP honors
The first round of the 2025 NBA draft is scheduled for June 25, with the second round taking place the following night.