Bulls Impressed With Hornets' 2025 Draft Class, Including Kon Knueppel
The Chicago Bulls are thrilled to have faced several promising players from the 2025 NBA draft class in recent games. Among them is guard Kon Knueppel, who impressed Coby White and coach Billy Donovan with his skills on the court.
White, a former Duke standout, has seen it all before, but was still impressed by Knueppel's performance against the Bulls. "He doesn't play like a rookie," White said. This sentiment is shared by Donovan, who praises Knueppel for his ability to shoot, his high IQ, and his athleticism.
Knueppel is not alone in catching the attention of the Bulls coaching staff. Several other first-round picks from the 2025 class have also had a significant impact on their games against the Bulls. These include VJ Edgecombe (No. 3), Ace Bailey (No. 5), Jeremiah Fears (No. 7), Derik Queen (No. 13), and Asa Newell (No. 23).
For Donovan, there are two key qualities he looks for in young players: physical competitiveness and mental toughness. He believes that these traits will be essential for success in the NBA, where games are long and physically demanding. Additionally, high IQ is crucial, as players need to be able to make quick decisions on the fly.
Donovan has been impressed with several players from the 2025 draft class, but acknowledges that this class is only going to improve over time. The Bulls will get to face another highly touted prospect in Cooper Flagg next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Patrick Williams has seen his minutes increase recently due to injuries to Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Zach Collins. While he was initially benched for five games at the end of December, Williams has responded well to the increased playing time. "Adversity always has a way of sharpening you," he said when asked about what's changed for him since being back in the lineup.
The Bulls' starting lineup with Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith seems to have found its footing despite the recent injury bug that hit the team. Donovan plans to continue using this lineup even when his players are healthy again, as it has been effective in reducing opponents' scoring opportunities.
However, Smith's return was cut short on Saturday after he left the game in the third quarter following a collision with LaMelo Ball. He is being checked for a concussion and will need to be evaluated further before returning to action.
The Chicago Bulls are thrilled to have faced several promising players from the 2025 NBA draft class in recent games. Among them is guard Kon Knueppel, who impressed Coby White and coach Billy Donovan with his skills on the court.
White, a former Duke standout, has seen it all before, but was still impressed by Knueppel's performance against the Bulls. "He doesn't play like a rookie," White said. This sentiment is shared by Donovan, who praises Knueppel for his ability to shoot, his high IQ, and his athleticism.
Knueppel is not alone in catching the attention of the Bulls coaching staff. Several other first-round picks from the 2025 class have also had a significant impact on their games against the Bulls. These include VJ Edgecombe (No. 3), Ace Bailey (No. 5), Jeremiah Fears (No. 7), Derik Queen (No. 13), and Asa Newell (No. 23).
For Donovan, there are two key qualities he looks for in young players: physical competitiveness and mental toughness. He believes that these traits will be essential for success in the NBA, where games are long and physically demanding. Additionally, high IQ is crucial, as players need to be able to make quick decisions on the fly.
Donovan has been impressed with several players from the 2025 draft class, but acknowledges that this class is only going to improve over time. The Bulls will get to face another highly touted prospect in Cooper Flagg next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Patrick Williams has seen his minutes increase recently due to injuries to Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Zach Collins. While he was initially benched for five games at the end of December, Williams has responded well to the increased playing time. "Adversity always has a way of sharpening you," he said when asked about what's changed for him since being back in the lineup.
The Bulls' starting lineup with Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith seems to have found its footing despite the recent injury bug that hit the team. Donovan plans to continue using this lineup even when his players are healthy again, as it has been effective in reducing opponents' scoring opportunities.
However, Smith's return was cut short on Saturday after he left the game in the third quarter following a collision with LaMelo Ball. He is being checked for a concussion and will need to be evaluated further before returning to action.
his skills on the court are straight fire! it's awesome that Coby White and Billy Donovan see something special in him. physical competitiveness and mental toughness are def key qualities for success in the NBA - can't wait to see how he develops over time 
. And I think it's great that Coach Donovan is focusing on physical competitiveness and mental toughness - those are the keys to success in this league. It's gonna be interesting to see how these young players develop over time... some of them are already making me wonder if we're gonna have a new crop of stars soon 
his skills on court are crazy! i think its cool that Donovan and White r high on him cuz he shows signs of bein a pro already 
and Patrick Williams is like "ahh i got this" after gettin benched lol 
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. Billy Donovan must be doing something right, huh? I mean, he's been around the block a few times with guys like Coby White and Patrick Williams 
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but what's really got me thinking is how Donovan's approach to building a team aligns with the values I care about. He's talking about physical competitiveness and mental toughness, which are so important for creating a winning culture in the NBA 
. And it's great to see Patrick Williams responding well to increased playing time - adversity can really shape you into a better player 
, now they're already making waves in the league and it's crazy how fast time flies, you know? Kon Knueppel is giving me some serious DeRozan vibes, all that athleticism and shooting range... reminds me of when Steph Curry came into the league 
. But you know what's even more impressive? Patrick Williams' transformation... that guy was benched just a few games ago and now he's killing it with more minutes under his belt 
. Oh, and Cooper Flagg? dude's got some serious potential... I've been watching highlights from that 2023 draft class too, remember when he was projected as a top 5 pick? what could've been 
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. It's not just about having skills, but also being able to bounce back from adversity 
. Being benched for five games and then responding with renewed energy? That takes grit and determination 
. I'm glad he's getting the playing time he deserves now.
. Hopefully Smith is back on track soon and they can ride this momentum all the way to the top 
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And those other first-round picks from the 2025 class? Forget about it, they're gonna be household names in no time 
- he seems to be handling the increase in playing time really well! 
. And don't even get me started on Cooper Flagg, I've heard rumors he's gonna be a game-changer 
. Billy Donovan's doin' a great job findin' ways to get his team winnin', even with all these injuries 
They're like sponges soaking up all that coaching from Billy Donovan. High IQ is a must-have skill for any NBA player, especially with games getting longer by the minute. And let's not forget physical competitiveness – it's what separates the champs from the benchwarmers. Patrick Williams' story is also super inspiring 
. And on the flip side, gotta feel for Patrick Williams getting more minutes - he showed what he's got when given a chance 
. These kids coming out of the 2025 draft class are straight fire 
. He might not be a superstar yet, but he's definitely got potential 
. The Bulls' starting lineup is looking solid and I'm excited to see how it continues to develop 
. Billy Donovan's got his eyes on some high IQ players and physical competitiveness – that's what's gonna make these youngins' successful in the NBA