Sports
Hornets open 2026-27 season without Knueppel, White and Williams
Charlotte will be missing two starters and a veteran reserve for Wednesday’s season opener against Brooklyn as all three continue recovering from injuries. The team has not announced when any of them might return.
The Charlotte Hornets will begin the 2026-27 NBA season without starters Kon Knueppel and Coby White, as well as veteran forward Grant Williams, when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Knueppel and Williams are recovering from hamstring injuries, while White is working back from a calf injury. All three have resumed individual court activities, but the Hornets have not provided a timetable for their return.
Knueppel missed the entire preseason after injuring his hamstring in the offseason. The former Duke player averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds as a rookie, shooting 42.5% from 3-point range. He made 273 3-pointers, the most in the league, according to the team information cited in the report.
The absences leave Charlotte without a significant share of its rotation at the start of the season. The Hornets finished last season one win short of advancing from the play-in tournament, falling to the Orlando Magic 121-90.