LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are gone, a new-look roster is taking shape, and Kon Knueppel was supposed to be the guy carrying that excitement into training camp. Instead, the buildup to preseason has taken a rocky turn. Two names on the injury report are not the ones Hornets fans wanted to see this close to opening night.
NBA insider Marc Stein, posting on X, confirmed the Hornets have ruled both Knueppel and forward Grant Williams out of preseason action. "The Hornets say Kon Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury and Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury during offseason on-court activity and will miss the preseason," Stein wrote. Stein also shared when fans can expect an update.
"Both will be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season," Stein said. That's a real blow for Charlotte. Knueppel, the No. 4 pick in last year's draft, quickly became one of the league's best rookies, averaging close to 20 points a game before an ankle issue slowed him late in the year.
He was expected to anchor the second unit and grow into a bigger role this season. Williams knows this pain too well. He tore his ACL in 2024 and has battled knee trouble ever since.
A hamstring strain now, right as he was finally getting healthy, is a frustrating setback for a player trying to rebuild trust with his body. Neither injury changes the calendar, though. Charlotte opens its preseason slate on Oct. 6 against Brooklyn and will tip off the regular season on Oct. 21, also versus the Nets.
With both players sidelined into November, coach Charles Lee will need his young guards and bigs to soak up extra minutes early. For a rebuilding roster still finding its identity, losing two rotation pieces before a single preseason possession is not the start anyone in Charlotte was hoping for.
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