Duke guard Kon Knueppel declares for 2025 NBA Draft: How wing boosted his draft stock this season
Duke freshman Kon Knueppel, the 6-foot-7 wing who starred next to Cooper Flagg this past season, has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, he announced on X on Wednesday.
The Milwaukee native is a projected top-10 pick in this year’s draft, according to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, after posting a standout year for the Blue Devils. In 39 games, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists on a solid 47.9 percent shooting from the field in just over 30 minutes per game. He primarily made a name for himself as one of the nation’s top 3-point shooters, connecting on 40.6 percent of his shots from distance, and was a 91.4 percent free-throw shooter.
Those numbers helped Knueppel earn a spot on the second-team All-ACC list, and he was a big part of the Blue Devils capturing a record 23rd ACC title after defeating Louisville in March.
Knueppel’s shooting ability from distance gifted the Blue Devils the ability to spread the floor and make it difficult for teams to guard, especially when it came to the attention Flagg drew. As equally important, it kept Knueppel’s draft stock high. Knueppel’s ability to spot-up and knock down open 3s is attractive to NBA teams, and his high IQ and willingness to defend are an added plus. While his footwork on the defensive side of the ball holds a question mark for the next level, his other attributes are strong enough
