LAS VEGAS — Rookie Kon Knueppel’s team-high 21 points and a lightning-fast start helped fuel the Charlotte Hornets to a hard-fought 83-78 win over the Sacramento Kings in the NBA 2K26 Summer League championship game at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

Kon Knueppel scored a team-high 21 points as the Charlotte Hornets started fast and downed the Sacramento Kings 83-78 on Sunday night in Las Vegas for their first NBA Summer League championship.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/hornets as The Hornets best rookie from Summer League wasn't Kon Knueppel, according to B/R analyst.

NBA Las Vegas Summer League is officially in the books. The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Sacramento Kings 83-78 on Sunday night, concluding the 11-day event in Sin City. With summer league over, it's time to recognize the best-of-the-best before the focus shifts to the remainder of the offseason.

The Hornets already have LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. If Knueppel can join them as an effective-out-of-the-gates third perimeter piece, that's a team that can win a solid total of games in the banged-up Eastern Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 109-80 Summer League semifinal loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The 29-point humiliation was part of the four-team SL playoff that will determine the winner of the July extravaganza.

After a strong Las Vegas Summer League performance with the Charlotte Hornets, center PJ Hall got picked up by the Memphis Grizzlies.