In FanSided's latest 2025 NBA mock draft, Christopher Kline has the Pelicans drafting Kon Knueppel 7th overall. The 19-year-old freshman out of Duke is one of the draft's most interesting wing prospects in this class. Standing at 6'7", Kon is one of the highest-IQ players in the draft and has all-star-level potential. Knueppel is severely overlooked among scouts and fans of the NBA draft.
He isn't a flashy prospect who will wow you with fancy moves, and he isn't an insane athlete who will be dunking over defenders and jumping out of the gym. However, he is an efficient, smart, and is a incredibly skilled player who can be the type of offensive connective piece the Pelicans need. In his lone season with the Blue Devils, he averaged 14.4 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists on an efficient 47.9% from the field and an insane 40.9% from beyond the 3-point arc.
A dream fit
Kon Knueppel could come in on day one and make things uncomfortable for a guy like Herb Jones. The way Kon can operate off the ball and make the most of every possession would jeopardize Herb Jones' starting shooting guard spot. Kon is already ahead of Jones offensively and is the definition of a three-level scorer.
Knueppel is a threat driving the basketball, he is a threat from beyond the arc, hitting 2.2 of his 5.3 three-pointers attempted per game last season. He can also make you pay in the in-between game, scoring very well from the nail and midrange. If you plan on going back to fact-check this, watch the film from March 13th against Georgia Tech. He was killing everywhere, 7/14 from the field for 28 points and 8 assists.
Speaking of assists, the most underrated part of his game is his playmaking. Knueppel isn't going to be a primary facilitator at the NBA level and wouldn't need to be with the Pels, as that's Dejounte Murray's job. That being said, he has shown he can be a good secondary facilitator. His 2.7 assists to 1.4 turnovers are a very encouraging sign that his playmaking will only get better.
Another huge draw with Kon is that his role with the Pels could be identical to his role at Duke. Kon isn't coming from a situation where he was the guy, but rather a situation where he had to play alongside a star. Looking back on his first year at Duke, he played perfectly alongside Cooper Flagg, something he can copy to New Orleans.
He could bring the same skills alongside Zion Williamson as he did with Flagg. Skills like operating without the ball, being able to create separation off screens. Handling the ball in the pick and roll and capitalizing when he gets the ball kicked out to him on drives and kicks. These are all things that could help complement the Pelicans' core right away.
His only real flaw comes on the defensive end. He needs to improve his lateral quickness and ability to change direction. That being said, if you draft him, you aren't drafting him for his defensive ability but rather for his unreal offensive upside.
Kon Knueppel is a true top 5 talent and is a safe bet in this year's draft. So if the Pelicans could take him at seven, they have to. At worst, he projects to be someone who will have a long NBA career due to his efficiency and style of play. But if he hits his potential, we are talking about a guy who can be a bigger, better version of Desmond Bane.