The Legend of Kon: Inside Kon Knueppel's burning need to be nice

John Fanta

School Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

Kon Knueppel can bear in mind sitting in his room on Duke’s campus and watching the NBA Draft final June. Earlier than he obtained to Durham, there was just one query on his thoughts:

What can I do that summer season to indicate that I need to get minutes as a freshman at Duke?

However that evening, as he watched one-and-done freshmen Reed Sheppard, Stephon Fort and Rob Dillingham get chosen within the prime 10, to not point out a Duke one-and-done participant in Jared McCain land within the prime 20, one thing hit Knueppel.

“After watching the draft, I mentioned to myself, ‘I would like that to be me subsequent 12 months,'” Knueppel informed FOX Sports activities. “I began getting up at 5:30 a.m. day by day throughout the summer season besides Sundays to work as laborious as doable. I actually, actually take pleasure in simply doing my work and getting out that further work.”

That is Knueppel, the 60-year-old caught in a 19-year-old’s physique, termed by his household as an “previous soul” with maturity past his years. He possesses a relentless ardour that matches the requirements of Jon Scheyer and Duke in each manner and the instincts and expertise to assist a workforce in quite a lot of methods when he is on the ground.

The oldest of 5 boys, Knueppel comes from legendary basketball genes within the state of Wisconsin. His father, Kon I, was a four-time All-Lake Michigan Convention choice at Wisconsin Lutheran School, setting the varsity’s file for profession factors with 2,064. His mom, Chari Nordgaard Knueppel, loved an much more legendary profession, being one in all solely three gamers in Inexperienced Bay girls’s basketball historical past to have her jersey retired because the Phoenix’s all-time main scorer with 1,964 profession factors.

Kon I and Chari knew they have been going to get married simply 11 days into their relationship, after which got here Kon II, who had a particular aura to him that even the nurses at Aurora Sinai Medical Heart seen.

“The day he was born, his eyes have been vibrant, huge open and centered,” Chari mentioned. “The nurses mentioned to me, ‘He appears to be like like he is two months previous already with the way in which that he is taking a look at you.’ He was taking the whole lot in from Day 1, simply so observant and conscious of all people. He is been that manner his complete life.”

However Knueppel’s love of basketball did not come as quick as his speedy maturation.

“When Kon was 5 and 6 years previous, he was not into sports activities in any respect,” mentioned Jeff Nordgaard, Knueppel’s uncle on his mother’s aspect, who was a second-round NBA Draft choose of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996 earlier than taking part in principally internationally on the professional stage for 13 years. “We’re a sports activities household. However he was actually sensible, utilizing phrases in his vocabulary that have been past what any of the little youngsters would say.

“We have been beginning to suppose he can be a non-athlete, which was completely high quality, however nonetheless a kind of issues that shocked us.”

After which, one buy made by the Knueppel household modified the whole lot:

The Nintendo Wii.

His mother and father didn’t beforehand have a online game console in the home and made it a degree to restrict these sorts of issues. However with out that Wii, Knueppel may’ve by no means developed the love for the sport of basketball he has now.

“I did not like basketball earlier than the Wii. I simply wasn’t enthusiastic about it rising up,” Knueppel mentioned. “However we obtained that Wii and I began taking part in NBA Jam and 2K. I fell in love with gamers. From there, I used to be passionate to seek out out as a lot as I humanly may about NBA gamers.

“My obsession most likely sort of obtained ridiculous, however that is how I fell in love with the sport. Clearly, if you couple that with nice coaches and oldsters, they actually inspired it. However that Wii modified all of it.”

Along with his love for the Wii, Knueppel additionally developed a ardour for studying about basketball, particularly the “Large Guide of Basketball.”

“He learn the Large Guide of Basketball most likely about 4 instances, beginning when he was 10 years previous,” Chari mentioned. “So then he wished to speak to individuals about the whole lot he learn. That is simply who he’s: an previous soul.”

Knueppel took that zeal from video video games and studying to the court docket, and it did not take lengthy for Norgaard, who coached Knueppel in fourth and fifth grade within the AAU ranks, to grasp that his nephew was totally different.

“At the moment, his really feel and IQ was that of a highschool child,” Norgaard mentioned of Knueppel. “He was very expert however not overly spectacular bodily. His really feel, poise and composure, alongside along with his shotmaking, made him stand out above the remainder.”

For Knueppel, the considered taking part in basketball, particularly on the Division I stage, had by no means crossed his thoughts. He was taking part in a number of sports activities and simply embracing being a child, even when he entered the ninth grade at Wisconsin Lutheran Excessive College.

“Even going into my freshman 12 months of highschool, I knew I used to be participant within the state and in center faculty, however I nonetheless thought I might most likely find yourself taking part in Division III ball at Wisconsin Lutheran School or one thing,” Knueppel mentioned. “However it grew to become evident fairly early on that I most likely may very well be a low-major to mid-major Division I participant. After which, I simply saved working and by the tip of my freshman 12 months, that summer season of AAU is when issues took off for me.”

For the proud Milwaukee native, it was a visit to his hometown Marquette College’s workforce camp that modified all of it.

“I simply bear in mind Shaka Good explaining drills for us, after which we would leap into a few video games adopted by open observe,” Knueppel mentioned. “When our workforce was on the court docket and he was explaining stuff to us, I seen he was taking a look at me loads. Proper after that, one of many assistants talked to me and the subsequent day, I obtained a suggestion over the telephone from them. After which, proper after that, I informed my mother and father I needed to get a complete lot higher as a result of I did not suppose I used to be that good but.”

Two extra years glided by, and with it got here provides from Alabama, Wisconsin, Virginia, Notre Dame, USC and extra. Being from such a tight-knit household, Knueppel thought lengthy and laborious about staying near dwelling.

“It was a super-tough resolution as a result of I did wish to keep close to dwelling,” Knueppel mentioned. “That was my unique thought course of — till I visited Duke. I liked how small the campus was. There was such enchantment to it, to not point out the workers being nice individuals and with the ability to play on an excellent workforce, so I informed myself: ‘If a campus was in Milwaukee, the place would I am going?’ In the end, that was Duke.”

Knueppel’s mother and father made it clear that the choice was as much as him, and ultimately, Duke was the clear alternative.

“When he informed us he wished to go to Duke, we mentioned ‘Why?’ And he responded: ‘I wish to play towards one of the best gamers day by day in observe, as a result of that can make me higher. I wish to hold it enjoyable and taking part in on a giant stage in each recreation I play in, with a soldout crowd, is quite a lot of enjoyable.’

“The third factor was to compete for a nationwide championship. It was that straightforward, and we have been offered. Between taking part in highway video games in packed homes, the ambiance of Cameron Indoor Stadium and when you need to guard Cooper Flagg or attempt to drive on Khaman Maluach or taking part in with veterans like Mason Gillis and Sion James, that is the final word check.”

Quick-forward to current day, and Knueppel has loved a standout freshman season. He has helped lead the Blue Devils to a spot within the Last 4, combining for 41 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists in wins over Arizona (Candy 16) and Alabama (Elite Eight). The 6-foot-7 sharpshooting guard has proven why he is projected to be a top-10 choice on this summer season’s NBA Draft, however not the whole lot has regarded like a Hollywood film script for Knueppel this season.

“I used to be actually homesick once I obtained to Duke,” Knueppel mentioned. “Clearly, I am actually shut with my 4 brothers [Kager, Kinston, Kash and Kid] so I missed them. However you understand, I used to be in a position to actually lean into basketball, and I used to be within the fitness center on a regular basis in the summertime, leaning into the fellows, managers and coaches. Ultimately, I obtained snug.”

Knueppel relied upon his classmates: Flagg, Muluach and Darren Harris, together with a sixth-year grad pupil in Neal Begovic, who Knueppel obtained to know when he went on a go to to Stanford as a sophomore in highschool.

“Neal actually helped me,” Knueppel mentioned. “He is an excellent pal and obtained me accustomed to school life. He invited me over each Sunday to look at soccer. These sorts of issues actually helped.”

Knueppel’s highway to being one of many prime stars heading into this 12 months’s Last 4 has been a captivating one. He began his school profession with 22 factors on 8-for-14 capturing from the ground towards Maine. Two video games later towards Kentucky, he was achieved in by a 5-for-20 displaying in a loss. In Duke’s win over Auburn in early December, he solely took three pictures. Nonetheless, in his final 13 video games, Knueppel has notched 14-or-more factors in all however one in all them, the Blue Devils’ first-round event win over Mount St. Mary’s.

“I feel quite a lot of it’s studying,” Chari mentioned. “I feel you are in a unique place in school as a freshman in December than you might be in March and April. He had quite a lot of nice individuals serving to him to be aggressive and to play extra freely. The workers needs him to do this and I feel he is gotten higher and higher at that because the 12 months’s gone on.

“I like 5-for-22 higher than 2-for-3, personally. However there have been undoubtedly ups and downs, ebbs and flows to a school season, however that made him stronger, and now he is obtained two video games left to let it fly in a Duke uniform.”

Knueppel has been taking part in his greatest basketball of the season as late, capturing 11-for-22 from the ground and 4-of-6 from 3-point territory over his final two video games. His presence for this Duke workforce on each ends of the ground is important as a result of he performs principally mistake-free basketball whereas being a stable defensive presence and a greater passer than the numbers present.

“This man’s a stud proper right here,” Scheyer mentioned of Knueppel on the TBS postgame interview after Duke’s 85-65 East Regional Last win over Alabama. “He is the final word warrior, competitor, and he actually carried us all through tonight.

“Kon’s versatility is large for us, and his measurement. He is in a position to go. He is in a position to end. You’re feeling he is at all times going to get off look as a result of he has nice pivots within the paint and nice endurance.”

That aggressive nature comes from rising up in a blue-collar family, with Chari working a daycare since 2006 and Kon I working as a college counselor within the Milwaukee public faculties system. Chari does have plans to retire this summer season to give attention to all of her 5 boys and their busy basketball schedules.

“We knew we wished a number of youngsters and we had 5 in 5 and a half years,” Chari mentioned with fun. “I actually wasn’t paying for daycare with how a lot that was going to value, so I made a decision to remain dwelling and run the daycare.”

Even when working that daycare, although, Chari was motivating her youngsters to hit the fitness center to get extra pictures up.

“I’m actually fierce about attending to the fitness center day by day,” Char saidi. “My husband may typically be like, ‘Hey, they already had observe. They already obtained their carry in. Cannot we give them the break day?’ And I am like, ‘No manner!’ We’ll get no less than 100 pictures up. We’re for positive doing that.”

That work ethic instilled within the Knueppel boys is what drives them to be nice, and in return, has created a dilemma heading into Last 4 Week. Kager, 17, and Kinston, 16, each have their opening weekend of AAU ball. Whereas mother thought it might be greatest for the 2 boys to affix their youthful brothers for Saturday’s showdown with Houston, the ever-competitive Kon II stepped in.

“I at all times say, ‘You do not miss basketball to look at basketball,’ Knueppel mentioned. “I get it is the Last 4, but when they wish to play the sport, I feel they need to play. I feel they’re relying on us to get it achieved on Saturday, however that is going to be an absolute battle.”

However Chari and Kon I’s parenting goes past educating their youngsters about having an accurate work ethic. Having character and robust ethical and moral qualities is extraordinarily essential to Knueppel, who can be very connected to his religion.

“When Duke was taking part in Louisville within the ACC Match, the Louisville energy coach requested all of our managers who was one of the best participant to them? Who was it that handled them one of the best? They usually all mentioned Kon,” Chari mentioned. “After Kon gained the ACC Match MVP, he texted his dad and I saying, ‘I simply wished to share this little nugget with you.’ And we have been extra proud about that than the ACC MVP.

“For his dad and I, that is what actually issues to us. Meaning greater than something that has to do with basketball, that you are a good Christian and that you just deal with individuals the fitting manner.”

As for what lies forward for Knueppel on the basketball court docket, it is a date with a Houston workforce that enters the Last 4 having gained 30 of its final 31 video games whereas proudly owning the No. 1-ranked protection in America and holding Tennessee to fifteen factors within the first half, the fewest by a top-2 seed in NCAA Match historical past.

Knueppel introduced up how a lot he has admired Houston’s DNA over time.

“They’re machines, man,” Knueppel mentioned. “They play for him. They simply play so laborious and it’s extremely, very admirable watching them play. Typically it is not the prettiest offensively, however it does not matter one bit as a result of they play so laborious on protection. L.J. Cryer can fill it up and on the boards. They’re unreal.”

Not dangerous for a scouting report from Knueppel. Not dangerous for a child who thought he can be fortunate to get a D3 provide as a freshman in highschool, solely to develop into a five-star prospect and one of the sought-after recruits within the nation. Not dangerous for an previous soul who has those self same huge eyes born out of Aurora Sinai Hospital set on a nationwide championship.

John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Discipline of 68 Media Community. Comply with him at @John_Fanta.

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