The Charlotte Hornets are champions for the first time! No, it’s not the title that their fans truly want, but have never come close to receiving. Nonetheless, the Hornets have been crowned Summer League champions for 2025. On Sunday, they defeated the Sacramento Kings by the score of 83-78 in the title game. Named MVP of that championship game was Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel.
The Best NBA Careers From Summer League Championship MVPs
Kon Knueppel Named 2025 Summer League Championship Game MVP
In their first title game opportunity, the Hornets became the 10th team ever to win the Summer League championship. They also stopped the Kings from becoming the first to win three. Only Sacramento and the Portland Trail Blazers have won it all twice.
It was just last month that Knueppel was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke. The Hornets haven’t always gotten their lottery picks right (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Noah Vonleh, and James Bouknight are a few examples). While stellar performances in summer league doesn’t always mean NBA success, Knueppel is off to a good start.
In the championship game, the 19-year-old finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists. While it wasn’t the most efficient game (8-21 from the field, 4-11 from beyond the arc), he had some timely baskets. Twelve of his 21 points came in the second half.
Turning 20 years old on August 3, Knueppel is hoping to slide right into the Hornets starting lineup at small forward. Standing at 6-foot-7, he showcased his elite shooting abilities during his one year at Duke. Knueppel ended last season connecting on 40.6% of his three-point and 91.4% of his free-throw attempts.
Best Careers From Former Winners
Altogether, there are now 12 players who can say that they have been named the MVP of the Summer League championship game. While that’s an honor that isn’t shared by many, not too many of the former winners have had all that much success at the NBA level.
Probably the best former MVP winner of the championship game would be Kyle Kuzma (don’t tell Milwaukee Bucks fans that after he struggled mightily for them last season). He won the MVP in 2017 while with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kuzma is now preparing for his ninth season in the league, and he possesses a championship ring from his time with the 2020 Lakers.
After Kuzma would likely be Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies. Clarke won the honors in 2019 for Memphis. They are the only team he has called home for his six NBA seasons. The power forward has career averages of 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Hornets have high hopes for Knueppel for the upcoming season and future ones as well. Charlotte has not tasted postseason basketball in each of the last nine seasons as their last playoffs appearance was back in 2016.
Photo credit: © Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
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