The Charlotte Hornets are HEADED TO THE SUMMER LEAGUE PLAYOFFS for the first time ever—and Kon Knueppel’s poise and playmaking are a big reason why. Doug Branson welcomes David Walker back to recap a dominant win over the Spurs and spotlight Knueppel’s breakout performance, including a jaw-dropping behind-the-head pass that had fans wishing upon a star player. Is Knueppel already showing signs of being a special connector at the NBA level?

Substack post I mentioned on the show: https://substack.com/home/post/p-168361084

Doug dives into advanced metrics that highlight Knueppel’s elite assist rate among top-10 rookies and makes the case that his playmaking may already outpace Year 2 Brandon Miller. PJ Hall also gets his flowers after a thunderous dunk and defensive showcase that puts him squarely in the battle for the final two-way spot. The guys discuss how Hall, KJ Simpson, and even Damian Baugh are fighting like it’s the playoffs—because for them, it is.

Plus, Doug opens the Sicko Satchel to debate whether this Summer League playoff matchup actually belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Hornets games since 2017. It’s a wild conversation that veers into culture talk, defensive accountability, and whether the vibes in Vegas could be the start of something real in Charlotte. If you're a Hornets sicko, this one’s for you.

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Top 35 Hornets Nicknames of All-Time According to Doug Branson: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-nicknames-in-hornets-franchise

Top 35 Hornets of All-Time According to Walker Mehl: https://hornets.substack.com/p/the-top-35-players-in-hornets-history

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