KON Knueppel, the Charlotte Hornets’ highly touted fourth overall pick, put on a dazzling display, scoring 21 points to propel his team to their first-ever NBA Summer League championship with an 83-78 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday (Monday, July 21, 2025, PH time) in Las Vegas.
The Hornets completed a pristine 6-0 run through the tournament, capping it off with a hard-fought win.
Knueppel, who was deservedly named the championship game MVP, continued his scorching form. After a quiet five-point opener, he ignited over his final four games, averaging an impressive 18.3 points.
His most crucial basket came with just 31.1 seconds left in the contest, a clutch three-pointer that extended Charlotte’s lead to a decisive four points and ultimately sealed the title.
“Like I said before, if you’re going to come here, you should win,” Knueppel declared post-game, reflecting on the team’s dominant performance. “So that’s what we did.”
While Knueppel led the scoring charge, he had ample support. Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 points, and three other Hornets chipped in with 11 points each, showcasing Charlotte’s balanced attack.
The Kings, making their third appearance in the Summer League final, were looking to add to their 2014 and 2021 titles but ultimately fell short, finishing their impressive run at 5-1.
Isaac Jones was a force for Sacramento, pouring in a game-high 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Fellow King Devin Carter contributed 13 points, while 24th overall pick Nique Clifford, who entered the game averaging 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds, finished with 10 points and eight boards.
Charlotte appeared poised for a runaway victory, establishing a commanding 36-18 lead in the second quarter.
However, the Kings mounted a relentless comeback, with Jones twice narrowing the deficit to a single point late in the game – first with a putback at 1:17, and then with a crucial three-pointer with 20.3 seconds remaining.
Despite the Kings’ valiant effort, the Hornets held their nerve at the free-throw line, sinking five of six attempts down the stretch to secure the championship.
“It’s a championship game,” said Charlotte 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.”
The game wasn’t without its physicality. Hornets center James Banks III was ejected with 3:47 left in the third quarter after receiving a flagrant-two foul for an elbow to the face of Sacramento center Dylan Cardwell, who remained on the floor for an extended period during the video review.
Nevertheless, the night belonged to the Charlotte Hornets, who celebrated a historic and undefeated Summer League campaign, signaling a promising future for their young talent. / FROM THE WIRES