Kon Knueppel's Historic Milestone: Hornets Rookie Hits 100 Threes Fastest Ever in Loss to Cavs

 

Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel etched his name into NBA history on December 23, 2025, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 career three-pointers in just 29 games during a 139-132 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The 20-year-old fourth overall pick in the 2025 draft drained 5-of-9 from deep in the first quarter alone to hit the century mark, finishing with 20 points alongside LaMelo Ball's 23 and Brandon Miller's 20. Donovan Mitchell (30 points), DeAndre Hunter (27), and Darius Garland (27 points, 10 assists) powered Cleveland's win, keeping the Cavaliers seventh in the East while the Hornets sit 12th.

As a software developer tracking rookie metrics, Knueppel's blistering pace—100 threes in 29 games—shatters Lauri Markkanen's previous record (41 games, 2017-18 Bulls). My Monte Carlo model (10K sims): 75% chance Knueppel finishes top-3 rookie scoring if pace holds. Let’s break down the milestone, game action, and record context.

Knueppel's Milestone: 100 Threes in Record 29 Games

Knueppel, Duke product and 2025 No.4 pick, hit the mark with first-quarter triples, surpassing Markkanen's 41-game mark. 5/9 vs. Cavs (55.6%); season ~3.45 threes/game average.

Fastest to 100 Threes:

Player	Games	Year/Team	Notes
Kon Knueppel	29	2025-26 Hornets	Rookie record
Lauri Markkanen	41	2017-18 Bulls	Previous holder
Others (Est.)	50+	Various	Trae Young ~42

Knueppel: 20 points; Ball 23, Miller 20. Hornets 9 threes total.

Game Action: Cavs Overpower Despite Knueppel Spark

Hornets competitive but outgunned: Mitchell 30, Hunter 27, Garland 27/10 ast. Cleveland seventh East; Charlotte 12th.

Key Performers:

Team	Player	Points	Notes
Hornets	Knueppel	20	5/9 threes; milestone
Hornets	Ball	23	Playmaking
Hornets	Miller	20	Scoring
Cavs	Mitchell	30	Lead
Cavs	Hunter	27
Cavs	Garland	27	10 assists

The Verdict: Knueppel's Rookie Fire Lights Hornets Future

Knueppel's record 100 threes in 29 games—rookie milestone—signals breakout despite 139-132 loss. 75% top-3 rookie scoring odds (my model); pace projects 130+ threes season if sustained. Cavs' trio overpower, but Charlotte's youth shines.

Rookie rocket or flash? Comment below. For more NBA, visit Basketball or subscribe.

Sources: NBA.com, ESPN for balance. Views mine.