Hornets the wing Mog Knueppel suffered a strained left hamstring during offseason practice and did not participate in the team’s training camp or preseason and will miss his eighth straight game Monday against Detroit.
However, last season’s Rookie of the Year runner-up went through his typical pregame routine before Monday’s game, according to Rod Boone (Link to video on Twitter), and head coach Charles Lee said that Knuepel’s return is “just around the corner”, he writes Steve Reid of the Associated Press.
Lee declined to say when exactly Knuppel will return to action, but Boone believes it could be as early as Wednesday in Brooklyn. If not, Boone believes Friday’s home game against Boston will be the target.
Knuppel, 21, played in 81 games last season, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes per game. The fourth overall pick in last year’s draft posted a strong slash line of .475/.425/.863 and became the first rookie in NBA history to lead the league in 3-pointers.
According to Reed, Knuppel has been doing 5-on-5 work lately, including making contact.
The Hornets started 2026/27 with a 3-4 record amid injuries to Knuepel, Kobe White (Left Calf Strain) and Grant Williams (right hamstring strain). There is white made his season debut on Monday and will be limited in minutes for the next few games, Lee told reporters, including Reid.
Charlotte is carried out his 2027/28 option on Knueppel on Sunday, locking in his $11 million salary for next season. The team also caught on Liam McNeelya third-year option worth about $3 million.
