The Charlotte Hornets are bringing hardware back to Buzz City.
Led by rookie standout Kon Knueppel, the Hornets capped off a perfect 6-0 run in Las Vegas with an 83-78 win over the Sacramento Kings to capture their first-ever NBA Summer League championship.
Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, continued his breakout showing with 21 points and was named MVP of the title game. His clutch 3-pointer with 31.1 seconds left gave Charlotte the breathing room it needed to seal the win.
“Like I said before, if you’re going to come here, you should win,” Knueppel said. “So, that’s what we did.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 points, while three other Hornets scored 11 apiece to help hold off a late surge from the previously undefeated Kings (5-1). Charlotte jumped out to a commanding 36-18 lead in the second quarter before Sacramento battled back behind Isaac Jones, who poured in 24 points and 11 rebounds.
The Kings trimmed the deficit to one point twice in the final minutes, including on a late 3-pointer by Jones with 20.3 seconds left. But the Hornets iced the game at the line, converting five of their final six free throws.
“It’s a championship game,” Hornets Summer League coach Chris Jent said. “In order to win a championship, you’ve got to play through adversity.”
Charlotte’s grit showed throughout, including in the face of physicality. Center James Banks III was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2 after elbowing Sacramento big man Dylan Cardwell.
Despite the drama, the Hornets stood tall—earning their first Summer League crown and showcasing a promising future led by Knueppel and a hungry young core.