Kon Knueppel’s 273 threes: first rookie to lead the NBA from deep

CHARLOTTE — Oct. 14, 2026 — Kon Knueppel closed his rookie season as the NBA’s three-point leader. The Charlotte Hornets wing made 273 threes in 2025-26, one more than teammate LaMelo Ball and more than anyone else in the league, becoming the first rookie ever to lead the NBA in total three-pointers made.

Basketball-Reference and StatMuse both have him atop the 2025-26 three-pointers-made table. WhyNBA’s league-leaders hub shows the same line: Knueppel 273, Ball 272, Luka Dončić 254, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 251 and Jamal Murray 245. Opening night for 2026-27 is Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The 273 that rewrote the rookie book

Knueppel played 81 games and averaged 3.4 makes from deep on 42.5 percent shooting (273-of-642). The full line, per Basketball-Reference: about 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes, with 47.5 percent from the field and 86.3 percent at the free-throw line.

That volume also broke the rookie three-point record. Land of Basketball and Sporting News both track Keegan Murray’s 206 makes for the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings as the previous mark. Behind Murray on the all-time rookie list sit Donovan Mitchell (187), Damian Lillard (185) and Brandon Miller (184). Knueppel cleared Murray by 67 threes.

How the league leaderboard finished

• Kon Knueppel, Hornets: 273 threes (rookie)
• LaMelo Ball, Hornets: 272
• Luka Dončić, Lakers: 254
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Timberwolves: 251
• Jamal Murray, Nuggets: 245

Ball finished one make behind his teammate. Sporting News noted that Knueppel and Ball became the first teammates with 270 or more threes each since Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors.

A rare rookie efficiency club

The scoring was not empty volume. Hornets PR pointed out that only three rookies have averaged at least 15 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 40 percent or better from three: Larry Bird, Paul Pierce and Knueppel. That puts the No. 4 pick from the 2025 draft in a short historical line with two Hall of Fame forwards.

The regular season is closed. Standings hubs still show the 2025-26 finals until Opening Night on Oct. 20, while the league-leaders page already lists Knueppel’s 273 as the three-point crown for the year that just ended.