LAS VEGAS — Rookie sensation Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, scored 21 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets past the Sacramento Kings 83–78 on Sunday, clinching the franchise’s first-ever NBA Summer League championship.
Ryan Kalkbrenner chipped in 15 points, while three other Hornets players added 11 each as Charlotte completed a perfect 6–0 run in Las Vegas.
Sacramento’s Isaac Jones delivered a dominant performance with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Devin Carter scored 13. Nique Clifford, the Kings’ 24th pick, posted 10 points and eight boards after averaging 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds throughout the tournament. The loss marked Sacramento’s first defeat in three Summer League finals appearances, having previously won titles in 2014 and 2021.
Knueppel capped his breakout showing by earning Championship Game MVP honors. After managing just five points in his opener, he averaged 18.3 points over his final four outings. His clutch 3-pointer with 31.1 seconds remaining extended Charlotte’s lead to four, effectively sealing the victory.
“Like I said before, if you’re going to come here, you should win,” Knueppel said postgame. “So that’s what we did.”
The Hornets dominated early, surging ahead 36–18 in the second quarter. The Kings rallied late, with Jones cutting the deficit to one point twice in the final minutes. But Charlotte closed the door at the free-throw line, sinking five of six foul shots to secure the title.
“It’s a championship game — you’ve got to play through adversity,” Hornets coach Chris Jent said.
