When people say a record was broken, they usually mean it was surpassed by a small margin. A few extra makes. A slightly better percentage. Enough to claim the title and move on. Breaking a record and shattering a record are two very different things — and what Kon Knueppel did to Keegan Murray’s rookie three-point record this season falls squarely into the second category.
This was not close. This was not a photo finish. This was a demolition.
What Murray’s Record Represented
Keegan Murray set the previous rookie three-point record during his own impressive debut season, establishing a benchmark that was widely considered a strong and durable standard. Murray was an efficient, high-volume shooter from the moment he entered the league, and his record reflected a genuinely elite rookie shooting performance.
It was exactly the kind of record that was supposed to stand for years — possibly decades — before someone with the right combination of volume and efficiency came along to challenge it seriously.
What Knueppel Did To It
Knueppel finished his rookie season with 273 three-pointers made at 42.5% efficiency on 7.9 attempts per game. The gap between his total and Murray’s previous record was not measured in single digits or near misses. It was a statement — the kind of performance that does not just put a new name at the top of the list but fundamentally changes the conversation about what is possible in a rookie season.
No first-year player in NBA history has ever shot the ball from deep the way Knueppel did in 2025-26. The record is not just his. It belongs to a different era entirely.
