Kon Knueppelâs recent announcement that heâs entering the 2025 NBA Draft sparked plenty of reactions, but what really caught Duke fansâ attention was how head coach Jon Scheyer was includedâor rather, how he wasnâtâin the farewell message. While Knueppel expressed gratitude for his time at Duke and the support he received, fans quickly noticed that his statement didnât specifically mention Scheyer by name, causing speculation and mixed reactions across social media.
The freshman guardâs decision to forgo his remaining college eligibility and go pro wasnât entirely unexpected, but itâs the tone of his goodbye that raised eyebrows. He thanked the Duke program as a whole, his teammates, and the fan base, yet omitted a direct shoutout to the coach who recruited him. For a fanbase as passionate and vocal as Dukeâs, that detail didnât go unnoticed. Some supporters felt it was a subtle way of expressing dissatisfaction with his role or development during his brief stint under Scheyer. Others defended Knueppel, suggesting people were reading too much into the message and that a playerâs farewell post doesnât always need to check every box.
Regardless of intent, the omission fueled a narrative that Knueppelâs time at Duke may not have been as fulfilling as hoped. With Dukeâs recent challenges in retaining young talent and balancing rotations, the situation adds to a growing conversation around Scheyerâs coaching style and how well he connects with players navigating early NBA decisions. As Knueppel moves forward toward the draft, fans are left wondering what really went on behind the scenes.
