When Old Teammates Cross Paths: Flagg and Knueppel Face Off in Hornets vs. Mavericks Duel
In last night’s preseason showdown between the Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks, fans got more than just a glimpse of future NBA talent they got a reunion. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick by Dallas, and his former Duke roommate and teammate Kon Knueppel, now with Charlotte, met on the hardwood in a matchup steeped in familiarity and promise.
It wasn’t just about stats though there was enough there to grab attention. Knueppel dropped 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist while dealing with 5 turnovers. Flagg answered back with 11 points, 3 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals, yet also committed 5 turnovers of his own. The Hornets took the win, 116–102, but the bigger story might be how the two former Blue Devils handled their first official NBA duel.
For those who followed Duke last season, watching Flagg and Knueppel re-connect felt inevitable. They were more than teammates roommates, collaborators, and competitors pushing one another in Chapel Hill’s lab of elite talent. When the NBA called, they chose paths that placed them directly across from each other. Last night, they embraced that moment.
After the game, Flagg reflected on their history before shifting his eyes to the future:
“It’s my roommate,” he said. “So it’s pretty cool just to see somebody … No. 4 pick is a big deal. … I’m just happy for him. He’s somebody that’s gonna be a friend of mine for life.”
Knueppel, too, played with that mixture of pride and ease, looking like a young pro comfortable in his role, driving Charlotte’s offense and spacing the floor. Their on-court chemistry was subtle the kind only long familiarity can supply in moments of silent communication, anticipation of where to cut, and mutual respect.
The meeting drew eyes not just because both are highly touted rookies, but because their contrast underlines just how unpredictable the NBA transition can be. Flagg, already earning buzz for his ball-handling and playmaking skills beyond his natural forward position, showed flashes of the multidimensional game scouts praised before the draft. Knueppel, meanwhile, reminded everyone of his sharp shooting, smart movement, and poise traits that made him the 4th overall pick.
But the story isn’t about who will become better. It’s about what they bring to the game tonight. When two players who once shared a room and a calling meet on a bigger stage, the result is more than competition it’s a narrative. Their duel was a preview of what’s to come: talent, growth, mistakes, and mutual respect carried through from college into the pros.
If last night was a sampling, the league just got a reminder that some rivalries begin long before the NBA ever invites you in. Flagg and Knueppel met under bright lights, but their story is still being written one game, one adjustment, one shared glance at a time.
Old Teammates, New Rivals: Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel’s First NBA Clash Had Duke Fans Holding Their Breath
It was only a preseason game, but it carried the weight of history and a touch of nostalgia. When the Dallas Mavericks faced the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, two familiar names found themselves on opposite sides of the court for the first time: Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, Duke’s one-year wonders turned NBA rookies.
For Duke fans, it felt surreal. Just months ago, they were teammates roommates, in fact sharing late-night film sessions and pushing each other through grueling practices in Durham. Now, under the bright lights of the NBA, they were opponents, testing each other’s limits like brothers who’d finally grown up.
And they didn’t disappoint.
The Hornets came away with a 120–116 win, but the real story was in the reunion. Kon Knueppel, drafted fourth overall by Charlotte, finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist, though he also turned the ball over five times. Across from him, Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick, matched that intensity with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, also with five turnovers of his own.
It was an even duel — one marked by flashes of brilliance and inevitable rookie mistakes.
For Dallas, Flagg showed exactly why the franchise believes he’s its future. His defensive instincts stood out, poking away passes, jumping lanes, and creating transition opportunities. There were moments when he looked every bit the versatile forward scouts promised handling the ball with confidence, drawing contact, and setting up teammates with sharp vision. Still, his youth showed in spurts a few mistimed passes, missed defensive rotations reminders that development will take time.
For Charlotte, Knueppel played with the steadiness and shot-making that made him such a trusted piece at Duke. Though his jumper wasn’t falling early, he found his rhythm late, hitting a few key shots that helped the Hornets close the gap and eventually seal the win. His off-ball movement and ability to space the floor made him a reliable outlet, even as he continues adjusting to the NBA’s speed and physicality.
After the game, the two rookies shared a long embrace at midcourt no cameras needed to tell the story. Flagg smiled when asked about the matchup:
“It’s my roommate,” he said. “So it’s pretty cool just to see somebody like that No. 4 pick is a big deal. I’m just happy for him. He’s somebody that’s gonna be a friend of mine for life.”
The sentiment was genuine — two competitors who shared a journey and are now carving separate paths at the game’s highest level.
What makes their connection so fascinating is how different their stories are. Flagg, the generational prospect from Maine, came into Duke as the face of college basketball before going No. 1 overall to Dallas. Knueppel, meanwhile, arrived as a steadying force a shooter with high IQ, the glue guy who quietly elevated those around him. Together, they helped make Duke one of the most balanced, talented teams in the country. And even in the NBA, that chemistry still lingers subtle head nods, smirks during free throws, a few playful exchanges after big plays.
But on Friday night, it was business. And as the Hornets handed the Mavericks their preseason loss, both rookies gave their teams reasons to believe.
Dallas saw in Flagg the flashes of a franchise cornerstone a player with the poise to lead, even at 19. Charlotte saw in Knueppel the makings of a steady professional who knows his role and delivers when it counts.
For Duke fans, though, it was something deeper a full-circle moment, watching two kids who once wore the same jersey now write new stories in different colors.
The box score will fade, the preseason will move on, but the symbolism of that night two Blue Devils turning pro and meeting so soon will linger.
It was friendly fire, born out of mutual respect. And judging by the first round, this won’t be the last time Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel share a stage worth watching.
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