Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, led the Charlotte Hornets to their first NBA Summer League championship on Sunday with a 21-point performance that sealed an 83-78 win over the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas.
Knueppel, who was later named the championship game MVP, drilled a crucial three-pointer with 31.1 seconds remaining to give the Hornets a four-point cushion. The Hornets maintained their composure down the stretch, finishing the game at the free-throw line to cap off a perfect 6-0 Summer League campaign.
“Like I said before, if you’re going to come here, you should win,” Knueppel said postgame. “So that’s what we did.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 points, while three other Hornets players contributed 11 each in a balanced team effort. The victory marked Charlotte’s first title in Summer League history and capped a campaign where they consistently displayed energy, defensive grit, and timely shot-making.
The Kings, appearing in their third Summer League final after title wins in 2014 and 2021, mounted a spirited comeback. Isaac Jones led Sacramento with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Devin Carter added 13. Nique Clifford, the 24th overall pick, finished with 10 points and eight boards, slightly under his tournament average of 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Charlotte opened with a commanding 36-18 lead in the second quarter, looking well on course for a blowout. But the Kings clawed back, and Jones twice brought Sacramento within a point—first on a follow-up shot with 1:17 left, and later on a clutch three with 20.3 seconds remaining.
Despite the pressure, Charlotte’s young squad closed out the game confidently. They converted 5 of 6 free throws in the final moments to fend off the Kings’ late surge.
“It’s a championship game,” said Hornets Summer League coach Chris Jent. “That’s what everybody wants to see anyway, so it works out well. In order to win a championship, you’ve got to play through adversity.”
A tense moment unfolded in the third quarter when Hornets center James Banks III was ejected after receiving a flagrant-two foul for elbowing Kings center Dylan Cardwell in the face. Cardwell was on the floor for several minutes as officials reviewed the play.
Despite the setback, Charlotte maintained its focus and composure, with Knueppel’s growth throughout the tournament proving vital. After a quiet start, the rookie averaged 18.3 points over his final four games, an indication of his rising confidence and future potential.
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