An NBA Mini-Mailbag and All-Star Picks, Plus Kon Knueppel Stops By

What It Covers

Bill Simmons conducts an NBA mini-mailbag covering all-star selections, discusses league trends like the 65-game minimum rule and efficient shooting, then interviews Duke rookie Kon Knueppel about his transition to Charlotte, playing against elite guards, and adapting to NBA pace.

Key Questions Answered

• •Injury Exception for Awards: The 65-game minimum for NBA awards should include a provision where missing 12-plus consecutive games with a documented injury drops the threshold to 60 games, allowing durable players like Jokic who suffer unexpected injuries to remain eligible without penalizing teams for load management issues.
• •Rookie Efficiency Revolution: Current NBA rookies demonstrate unprecedented shooting efficiency with field goal percentages in high 40s, three-point shooting between 38-42%, and free throws at 78-85%. This reflects improved shot quality league-wide, emphasizing rim attempts, open threes from designated spots, and individual mastery shots rather than volume shooting.
• •NBA Pace Without Practice: Teams rarely practice at their home facilities anymore, sometimes going 2-3 weeks between actual practice sessions due to playing every other night. The schedule forces rest days between games rather than skill development work, fundamentally changing how teams prepare and improve throughout the 82-game season compared to previous eras.
• •Men's League Development Advantage: Playing in adult recreational leagues from a young age develops more mature basketball skills than AAU circuits. Knueppel credits 20 years of his father's Milwaukee men's league for teaching off-ball movement, physicality, and team play that youth basketball and Instagram training culture fails to emphasize for NBA readiness.
• •Gather Step Mastery: Elite guards like Giannis, Harden, and LaMelo exploit gather step rules by throwing the ball to themselves or using low pickups, where placing the second hand on the ball counts as zero step before two additional steps. This creates apparent three-step advantages that rookies must specifically train to execute legally.