Tag: Hornets

Why no showdown between LaMelo Ball, SGA? Hornets coach explains

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The person who sat at the tail end of the visiting bench for Kon Knueppel’s pro debut in the preseason was back in the building, except this time watching on this side of the North Carolina border.

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault had the first up-close opposing view of the Charlotte Hornets’ rookie when the teams met in Charleston in October, a matchup that preceded their outing at Spectrum Center on Saturday night. That makes Daigneault’s view on Knuppel’s growth as valid as anyone, and he heaped praise on the Hornets’ rookie.

“Knueppel’s off to a great start,” Daigneault said. “The shooting gravity obviously brings a different element in his screening. You saw that (Friday) night against Milwaukee, and he’s just got a good offensive sense for the game. He finds space, he’s good in the screening game. He obviously can play with the ball in those situations, too.

“So, good player, that’s off to a really good start in his career.”

One that could see him defy the odds and be in line to garner the NBA’s Rookie of the Year honors — provided Knueppel’s steady progression doesn’t take a serious dip. Even on nights like Saturday, when he didn’t completely have it in the Hornets’ 109-96 loss to Oklahoma City.

Knueppel’s eight-point, four-rebound, three-assist effort against the Thunder came on the heels of the best overall performance of his young career, when he posted a season-best 32 points in Charlotte’s defeat in Milwaukee, making memories for more than 2,000 fans in attendance who were there to cheer on their hometown hero.

Knueppel leads all rookies in made 3-pointers with 39 and is tied for ninth in the league in made 3-pointers. His scoring average of 17.9 points per game puts him atop the rookie class, ahead of Philadelphia’s V.J. Edgecombe’s 15.6 points and the 15.2 his former Duke teammate and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.

Knueppel is already at the point of having game-opening plays drawn up for him, and he’s adept at executing, such as when he drove into the lane for an easy layup off a screen to begin things against the Thunder.

“I think (it’s) just the consistency of his approach,” coach Charles Lee said. “He comes in the building every day, whether it’s what he eats for his diet, whether it’s his vitamins. If it’s a film or it’s on court work, everything’s just taken with a seriousness, a competitiveness, an obsession to want to get better.

“And I think that’s why when he gets to the game, he’s so fearless. He understands he’s done all the work mentally, physically, emotionally. He’s so stable. Doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He’s just ready for every moment. So, really excited for his continued growth. But I love what I’ve seen from him in the early going so far.”

Here are some takeaways from the Hornets’ second straight defeat:

Plan for LaMelo Ball

After returning from a five-game absence and playing in Friday’s loss in Milwaukee, star guard LaMelo Ball was in street clothes again. Ball logged 27 minutes against the Bucks following a nearly two-week absence nursing a right ankle impingement, but sat out the entire overtime period.

Given his injury history, the Hornets are taking it light with Ball.

“He came in this morning, got some treatment,” Lee said. “He’s actually in now, still getting treatment, and lifting and stuff. I think he responded really well to his minutes. Our performance staff and player-development group has done a good job of developing a plan that’s going to help maximize him. So, minutes going forward for a while, we have to be mindful of putting him in the best position to be available for as many games as possible.”

Miles Bridges’ play

Quietly, Miles Bridges is picking up quite a bit of the slack with Ball and Brandon Miller out of the lineup, doing a bit of everything.

Bridges has posted at least three games of 30 or more points and entered Saturday’s game tied for seventh in the NBA in made 3-pointers with 40, aided by his career-high tying seven 3-point shots he knocked down against Los Angeles on Nov. 10.

But his reach goes beyond the offensive side, as he typically guards one of the opposition’s better players, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I’ve seen a ton of really good things from Miles over the last couple games,” Lee said. “No. 1 defensively, he’s taken on a lot of different matchups, and he’s embraced it and he’s wanting it. (Luka) Doncic, the Lakers game, and he’s picking up full-court and he’s trying to deny him. (Friday) night, (Giannis) Antetokounmpo at the end of the game.

“We were sending two a lot of times and double-teaming, and I was like, ‘Hey, we came into the game committed to it. Let’s finish the game.’ And Miles is like, ‘Nah, I got it.’ And he did a heck of a job at that end of the game, keeping him in front, getting to a contested jumper and forcing overtime with that stop. So, been really happy with the defensive mindset, his understanding of what’s going on, his willingness to want to embrace every matchup. Whether it’s the best player, whether it’s a big. Whatever it is, he’s done it at a high level.”

Lee’s praise didn’t stop there for Bridges.

“Offensively, I see him playing a little bit more composed, not trying to force too many things,” Lee said. “If he doesn’t have an immediate shot or quick drive, he’s swinging it, getting to a hit under or slip, trusting his teammates in a lot of different environments. So, then he’s able to get a catch-and-shoot 3, or he’s playing for some closeout and then able to get to the paint and get himself out and play it under control. So, I just love his overall just poise offensively.”

Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.

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November 15, 2025
Hornets’ historic lineup can’t get going vs. Orlando

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Tipoff was roughly 90 minutes away, so Charles Lee’s latest secret maneuver hadn’t been publicly revealed just yet.

Instead, when the Charlotte Hornets coach got asked about the recent rise in rotational minutes for Sion James over the course of the season’s initial week, he glowingly opened up in discussing the rookie guard.

“Sion’s done a great job of developing his game, learning how we want to play on both ends of the court,” Lee said. “He stood out to us, obviously, early in pre-draft and going to evaluate him in our front office. And so there’s always been something there with Sion. I think that his physicality defensively has been really impressive, but he’s earned an opportunity.”

After serving as a reserve for the initial four games of his career, James apparently was deemed worthy of an even bigger break. He started in the Hornets’ backcourt alongside star LaMelo Ball in their 123-107 loss to the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center on Thursday night, helping establish a little history in the process.

In joining fellow draft class members Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the game-opening unit, it marked the first time the Hornets have ever started three rookies in a regular-season game.

“Yeah, it’s awesome,” James said. “We’ve talked about how we get to go through this experience together. It’s awesome sharing the floor together. At one point, all four of us were on the floor together, which is really cool for us to see. And we’re just really trying to grow.

“We’re thankful for the position that we’re in, and we’re just trying to do the best for ourselves and for the organization.”

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, center, sits on the team’s bench dejected in the final moments of action against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 30, 2025. The Magic defeated the Hornets 123-107. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

James’ insertion into the starting lineup couldn’t spur the Hornets (2-3) past the Magic, despite Orlando being on a back-to-back and shorthanded without Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner. A sluggish opening quarter paired with an inability to get up into the Magic defensively doomed Charlotte.

Factor in an off night from Miles Bridges, who didn’t get it going until late and tossed in 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, and a modest performance from Ball by his lofty standards — 17 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds — and the Hornets began their three-game home stand in disappointing fashion by trailing wire to wire against Orlando (2-4).

“Yeah, I think that we definitely didn’t have that extra gear that we had been playing with the last few games,” Lee said. “I don’t know coming off that road trip or what it is, but we’ve got to be able to find that juice. And I think that it starts with being able to get stops. And when we get stops, we’re usually out in transition and playing with the pass and playing confidently.

“So, I think that, again, we’ve got to get more stops to be able to play with the pass pace that we want to play with.”

About the only thing this one will be remembered for centers around James.

James, who totaled eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes against the Magic, quickly carved out an early-season rotation spot with activity on both ends of the court, high basketball IQ and sustained effort, catching the staff’s eye almost immediately.

The Hornets knew they had something in the hard-working Georgia native who slid into the national spotlight thanks to his one season at Duke teamed with Knueppel, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg & Co.

“It’s been fun to watch, and I think his teammates have kind of helped bring him along as well,” Lee said. “And so I don’t think there was a certain point — I just think it was really an evolution and an earning of an opportunity throughout all the competitiveness we had during training camp and preseason, and seeing how he can just add to a group because he doesn’t need the ball necessarily.

“He can play beside anybody. He’s going to play defense, he’s going to offensive rebound, he’s going to help connect the whole group. So, love that about him. And I think that it’s a good asset to our group.”

Here are some takeaways from the Hornets’ latest outing:

Costly defensive woes

Scanning the score by quarter along with the Magic’s shooting percentage beyond the arc in the first half tells you all you need to know about this one. Orlando topped 30 points in all but one quarter and sank 47.4% of its 3-point attempts in the first half alone.

“In general our defensive execution was not good enough,” Lee said. “To come off of last game and start the game with a 38-point first quarter and a 33-point second quarter, especially with the points of emphasis being taking care of the paint, defending without fouling, second-chance points … it felt like those reared their heads too much in that first half.

Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James, left, is hugged by injured guard Brandon Miller prior to the team’s game against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 30, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

“And then I thought that we actually found a little bit of a groove defensively in some other areas and credit some of their guys that haven’t been shooting it well shot it decently tonight. So, we will definitely hit the drawing board and get back to practice and keep working on our defensive end intensity and purpose.”

The Hornets let the Magic push them around. And they know it’s unacceptable.

“We just weren’t physical enough, honestly,” James said. “They’re a big, physical team, one of the most physical in the league, and in stretches we matched and exceeded it. And those are the stretches where we were able to get stops and get quick baskets on the other end.

“But a lot of the time, they were out-physicaling us and that’s how we gave up 38 in the first quarter, 33 in the second quarter.”

Tre Mann’s slow start

Take a peek at the Hornets’ leading scorers entering the night and one name is lower than expected, leaving more than a few people wondering what’s going on.

Tre Mann ranked ninth in scoring on the team at six points per game through the Hornets’ first four contests and had topped double digits only once this season. He also got held scoreless in Sunday’s win in Washington, and shot 24.6% overall from the floor and 22.2% through four games.

Mann posted nine points against the Magic, failing to reach double figures once again. Still, Lee is sure Mann will return to form soon.

“Yeah, always going to remain confident in Tre and everyone in that locker room,” Lee said. “I watch how hard they work, how much they care. My confidence will never waver with him or anybody else. I think that he’s just trying to find his way again. You missed some games and still just trying to find that rhythm. But I’ve actually seen progress from game to game.

“I’ve seen him find his defensive impact, like trying to get into the ball a little bit more, trying to have a little bit more shift activity. Offensively, I think he’s becoming a little bit more decisive. Saw him knock down two threes against Miami that I thought were just kind of catch-and-shoot, and be ready and let it fly. And then also in pick-and-roll situations, just recognizing some unders and where to pass and when to pass. You miss some time, new style of play, it takes a little bit of time. But I have full confidence in Tre to be able to get back to ‘Tricky Tre.’”

Kon Knueppel is more than a shooter

To say Knueppel is off to a good start is an understatement.

He is atop this season’s rookie leaderboard in made 3-pointers (17) and entered the matchup with Orlando ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-pointers knocked down. He’s connected on more shots beyond the arc through four games than anyone in NBA history, and is also the lone player in league history to make five or more 3-pointers in two of his first four career games.

But that’s not what’s jumping out to Lee. It’s what’s transpiring on the other side of the floor.

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, left, loses control of the ball as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner applies defensive pressure during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 30, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

“I think that his understanding of personnel and tendencies has already been pretty impressive for a first-year player,” Lee said. “I think he takes the time to study and watch film, and he and his position or primary skills coach do a really good job of working on techniques as well — slide steps and how to steer.

“And he’s a quick learner. He’s got a really high basketball IQ, really good feel and then his overall just competitive nature makes him want to embrace whatever challenge comes his way defensively.”

Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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October 30, 2025
‘144 isn’t going to cut it’: What Charles Lee said about Hornets’ loss to Miami

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The pattern continues.

During the first full week of their 2025-26 season, the Charlotte Hornets have alternated between victories and defeats, following the former with the latter.

Tuesday night was the latest example.

Done in by a pair of backbreaking runs in each half, the Hornets couldn’t hang with the Miami Heat in a 144-117 loss at Kaseya Center, concluding a three-game road trip that could have easily finished above .500.

Instead, the Hornets can only lament their defensive effort in a game in which LaMelo Ball nearly recorded his second triple-double in as many outings, tossing in 20 points to go with nine assists and eight rebounds. The star guard registered 15 points in the first quarter, but never got into the same rhythm for the second half.

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets reacts during the second quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Oct. 28, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Megan Briggs Getty Images

“I felt like it was one of those games where it was a ton about transition,” coach Charles Lee said. “They played with good pace, their kick-aheads bothered us even after makes. I think they were able to get out and create some advantages early on in the clock.

“…Credit to them. A couple of guys hit some shots that maybe don’t shoot it as well as they did today, but they had it firing on all cylinders. And then when we get to that point, when we get close we’ve got to buckle down. One forty-four isn’t going to cut it on a nightly basis.”

Lee seemed most discouraged by the Hornets’ lack of execution with many of their principles.

“The rest of the game plan, it’s stuff that we work on at the beginning of training camp,” Lee said. “It’s transition defense, it’s guarding the ball, it’s great shift activity and then finishing possessions. And they did a lot of those things better than us tonight.”

Other leading scorers for Charlotte were Collin Sexton with 18 points and Kon Knueppel with 19.

Bam Adebayo scored 26 points to lead Miami (3-1).

Here’s what else Lee said about where the Hornets (2-2) are at following their road trip:

On number of assists this season and it being a point of emphasis

“I would say ball movement has been a big theme of our offseason, in preseason, in training camp and our first few games,” Lee said, “and I want to see it sustained. We’ve done it so far through (the first) three games and I think it’s helping us. I think it’s creating better shots, it’s also leading more of our players and everyone is more of a threat.

“It’s been great to see and I think it starts with our three kind of big dogs in Melo, Miles (Bridges) and Brandon (Miller) and their willingness to do it becomes contagious with the rest of the group. I’ve loved where we are at and I want to see us be able to sustain it.”

Collin Sexton of the Charlotte Hornets reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Oct. 28, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Megan Briggs Getty Images

On Collin Sexton’s impact

“Collin has definitely been great,” Lee said. “He’s elevated the intensity level in our environment, in our culture and in the games since Day One. He’s kind of come in with just an all-business, obsessed with daily improvement. When he comes in to work out, he brings it and I love his approach, I love how he interacts with his teammates. He is so bought into everything that we are doing., but he’s pushing all of his teammates to be great as well, which is also an exciting thing.

“And when game time shows up he’s the same person. The consistency of passion and competitiveness and togetherness, it’s seen and it’s evident.“

On more than five players averaging at least four rebounds

“It’s been good to see,” Lee said. “Again, I want to see those efforts sustained. Moussa (Dibateis) the driver of our offensive rebounding, and as he goes, I think the rest of the group sees it and feels it, and it’s something that we are pretty passionate about. I think it kind of breaks the spirit of other teams, but I also think it helps you win that shot margin, gives you another opportunity, (helps with) valuing every possession.

“So, there’s a ton that goes into it. But I’ve been really happy with our guys committing to it this year, hitting the glass. And on top of hitting the glass sharing the ball I think we’ve gotten a lot of really good kick out threes or other plays have happened because of that.”

Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat handles the ball against Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on Oct. 28, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Megan Briggs Getty Images

On having rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the starting lineup

“Our rookies, they came in, they hit the ground running from Day One,“ Lee said, “contributing to the summer league championship. But the habits that they bring, the basketball IQ, the competitiveness, I can kind of go on and on and on. But they’ve definitely earned the opportunity to be out there in the starting lineup. And I think that everyone gets to see why. It’s no surprise. They’ve been playing this way since Day One, and it’s been great to see.

“Now, I think that if we can continue down that road, it just helps our depth. They are going to have their ups, which is what they are in right now. But when you are a young player in this league, you are going to have a down at some point, too, But I believe in the character of these people, how they work, how they push each other to be really good, they are part of the evolution of our culture and our environment.”

This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM.

Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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October 28, 2025
As Hornets’ Brandon Miller injured, what we learned in Charlotte’s loss to 76ers

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Philadelphia

It took all of one game.

Anyone who’s followed the Charlotte Hornets for the better part of the past decade understands the importance of good health. Those two things just haven’t gone together, especially when it comes to the team’s top talent.

This year was supposed to be different, given the Hornets’ initial injury list didn’t have any names on it beyond the expected ones of Josh Green (shoulder) and Grant Williams (ACL). But that changed in the first half of their 125-121 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

Brandon Miller exited with left shoulder soreness and didn’t return, leaving a gray cloud over the Hornets’ scrappy performance against a team that’s been their arch nemesis. Miller appeared to take a hit on it in the second quarter and never came back out to the Hornets’ bench after getting examined in the locker room.

“I look forward to just meeting up with the performance staff and finding out more,” coach Charles Lee said. “I think it was just shoulder soreness, and he’ll be evaluated. “

Lee said he never saw the actual point when Miller got injured.

“I really didn’t, to be honest,” he said. “I turned around and he was asking for a sub. And for a second I actually thought maybe it was his wrist and then later found out that it was a shoulder soreness.”

His injury comes on the heels of his sizzling season-opening outing against Brooklyn on Wednesday, when he posted a team-best 25 points. That was Miller’s first action in an official game since having surgery in January to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, and after getting banged up against the 76ers, it’s unclear when he’ll be able to suit up again and if he’ll be available for Sunday night’s game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena.

There’s a bit of uncertainty.

“Yeah, we’re always worried about all of our guys,” Lee said. “Anytime somebody goes down, you’re always worried about him and hope everything’s Ok.”

Even without Miller for the bulk of three quarters, Charlotte proved once again these aren’t the Hornets (1-1) of old. Rather than Miller’s injury sucking their soul out, leaving them questioning whether they had enough to get it done minus one of their rising stars, the Hornets dug in and turned in a spirited second half fueled by Lee switching up the starting unit, putting Moussa Diabate in place of Ryan Kalkbrenner and giving the nod to Kon Knueppel.

Moussa Diabate (14) of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against Quentin Grimes of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell Leff Getty Images

Problem was, their legs seemed to give out on them in the fourth quarter, when an 11-point lead disappeared in the closing minutes, dropping their 15th outing to Philadelphia in the last 16 meetings and falling to 1-20 all-time against Joel Embiid.

“Understand that we haven’t played with each other before,” Collin Sexton said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces. We have a lot of new guys here. So, games like that builds trust. Those games build trust so that when we get in this same scenario in a couple weeks or even tomorrow, we’ll be ready to respond and respond in a way that, ‘Ok, we’ve been here before.’

“This is our first test, and I’m glad it happened early rather than happen late and we’re not able to understand why it’s happening. You have to be able to bounce back, and you have to understand that good days are coming as well as bad days. And you’ve got to be prepared for both.”

Still, there’s encouragement.

“Just got to learn from it,” said Miles Bridges, who had 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. “Go, go to the film room, learn from it, see what we could do better in the closing situations. And we’ll see them again.

“So, like I said, we’ll just go to the film and learn from it.”

Here are some key takeaways from the Hornets’ loss to Philadelphia:

Ryan Kalkbrenner’s growing pains

Perhaps foreshadowing things, Lee knew what Kalkbrenner was in store for trying to match up with Philadelphia star center Joel Embiid from the outset as the starting center for the second straight game.

“He’s a force,” Lee said leading up to tipoff. “Obviously, he won the MVP of the league and he does it in a lot of different ways. But I think that we have some really good individual defenders who are willing to embrace that challenge. And like I said, we can’t leave them on an island.

“We have to have great shift activity. We’ve got to have some different ways to guard them and give him some different looks. Because a guy like that, he can get comfortable if you just guard him one way the whole game.”

Kalkbrenner experienced some expected growing pains against Embiid, getting whistled for two quick fouls in the game’s initial 3:36 that cost him a good portion of the second quarter. That led to Mason Plumlee’s first action of the season and forced Lee to go with more of a three-headed rotation. But the rookie still managed to muster up 14 points — although most came with Embiid on the bench due to a minutes restriction — to go with seven rebounds.

VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers and Collin Sexton of the Charlotte Hornets battle for the ball in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell Leff Getty Images

Going in depth

After not having enough healthy bodies in his first season, it appears Charles Lee is going to use as many as he can in Year 2.

Lee went deep for the second straight game, using six reserves off the bench — one more than in their victory against Brooklyn. Although Lee’s order of insertion of the reserves was altered versus the 76ers, partially because Sexton started instead of serving as the sixth man and Plumlee had to come in first due to Kalkbrenner’s early foul trouble, the premise remained the same.

And it doesn’t sound like it’s changing any time soon.

“Yeah, I think that we have great depth on this team,” Lee said. “A lot of guys have earned an opportunity to be out there. I think we have a lot of guys that play the right way — they compete, they’re about togetherness on both ends of the floor. And I love to get as many bites at the apple as we possibly can. I think that it puts your team in a good position to play any way.

“You need a lot of different ways. And so I love being able to play 10 guys. I think that those 10 guys (Wednesday) night earned the opportunity, but there’s some guys sitting behind them that have also earned the opportunity. And so from night-to-night, game to game, it could look a little bit different.”

Kon Knueppel (7) of the Charlotte Hornets guards VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell Leff Getty Images

Sion James earning trust

Sion James is receiving key minutes, elbowing his way into the Hornets’ crowded backcourt contingent and showing why the team was confident in him enough to waive veteran Spencer Dinwiddie before the preseason concluded.

James logged 19 minutes off the bench, which was the second-most for a Hornets’ reserved. He was efficient, tossing in 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and played under control.

“I think that he brings a toughness to the group,” Lee said, “a willingness to kind of just do whatever he needs to do to help connect offensively, while also bringing, like, a physicality defensively and like, wants to embrace the idea of guarding the other team’s best player or whoever may be going at that moment.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 25: Sion James #4 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket against VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Mitchell Leff Getty Images

“So, there’s a lot of things that Sion brings to the table, but the biggest thing to me is his toughness, his IQ and willingness to do whatever it takes to kind of just add value to the group.”

James is glad to be in the rotation so soon.

“It’s a really good feeling,” he said. “It takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of things out of my control going my way. Now, it’s just about building from here, building personally, building as a team, as a unit. Everything like that.”

As for what he adds to the Hornets, James kept it simple.

“Bring a lot of energy on both sides of the ball, bring a lot of versatility on both sides of the ball,” James said. “And I feel like I try to raise the level of play for myself and all my teammates.”

This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 10:50 PM.

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Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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October 25, 2025
What we learned in the Hornets’ season-opening win over Brooklyn

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Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel, right, drives to the basket for a shot over Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas, left, during action on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC.

JEFF SINER

jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

In case many weren’t aware, which was understandable given the curiosity that undoubtedly engulfed many patrons with Spectrum Center’s renovations complete, the video board and public address announcer Shawn Parker made it clear.

This collection isn’t the Charlotte Hornets of old.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Listening to the roar of delight when rookie Kon Knueppel was introduced as a member of the Hornets’ starting five and the continued excitement seconds later when Ryan Kalkbrenner’s name was unveiled cemented that. The Hornets believe they are on a path to changing the franchise’s culture, and Knueppel and Kalkbrenner should play pivotal roles after combining for 21 points and 16 rebounds in Wednesday night’s 136-117 win over the Brooklyn Nets in front of a sellout crowd of 19,514.

“It’s awesome,” Kalkbrenner told The Observer. “I think both of us have a good attitude about it. We’re just going to make the most of the opportunity that we get. Whether it’s starting, coming off the bench, whatever.

“We were lucky enough to get the experience to start tonight. I think I can say it for Kon, but definitely for myself, that we’re just happy to help the team win.”

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, congratulates guard/forward Kon Knueppel following Knueppel’s 3-point basket against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Nets, 136-117. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Kalkbrenner became the second rookie in franchise history to record a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) in his NBA debut, joining Emeka Okafor. He’s also the 81st player in NBA history to debut with a points-rebounds double-double, according to Stathead.

The Hornets are also the first team since 2019 to start two rookies on opening night and emerge victorious. They were just two of the nine Hornets who scored in double digits — something that had never happened in a season opener in franchise history.

“Everybody ate,” Knueppel said. “Everybody is playing unselfishly. How many guys did we have? Nine? That’s winning basketball. That’s how it’s supposed to be played. So, hopefully we can keep that going.”

The insertion of Knueppel and Kalkbrenner comes with a disclaimer, though: Objects in the starting lineup may be subject to change.

Coach Charles Lee intends on keeping things fluid at shooting guard and center.

“We’ll keep studying it and figuring out which combinations work well,” the coach said. “Brandon, Miles and LaMelo have shown that they’ve earned that opportunity to start. The other two guys, they’re going to have to earn that with their performance, they’re going to earn it with the trust of their coaches and their teammates.

“Sometimes, it will be based on matchups or what makes sense with roster balance, depending on whatever situation we’re in during the year. There’s been a lot of great communication and people know to be open-minded and ready for their opportunity. We have a really deep team, especially when it comes to competitiveness.”

Initial impressions from Knueppel and Kalkbrenner were solid.

Sure, there were rookie mistakes, such as when Kalkbrenner got the ball early in the first quarter at the free-throw line and turned briefly to face the bucket. However, he whipped a pass in between Bridges and Knueppel on the wing.

But Lee also showed the confidence he has in Kalkbrenner when he ran a play for the big man coming out of a timeout midway through the first quarter. And he followed that up with back-to-back easy buckets inside.

With relative ease, too.

He swatted Ben Saraf’s shot at the rim in the second quarter, sparking a fast break punctuated by a LaMelo Ball feed to Miles Bridges for an easy two-handed dunk. Throw in a nice back tap in the third quarter that led to an uncontested Knueppel 3-pointer was among the other positives for Kalkbrenner.

“Just got the nerves out of the way,” Kalkbrenner said. “Some bad came with that — game moving a little fast. But at the end of the day, it’s just basketball. And once I got a few quarters under my belt, definitely slowed down, I felt more comfortable. So. that’ll continue to get better and better, and I’ll keep finding my comfort out there.”

Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner throws down a two-handed dunk during action against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

At least he’s off to a good start.

“It’s cool when you get your first NBA victory, especially to do it here at Spectrum in front of our great fans,” Lee said, “and so they made an impact from Day 1 just with their work ethic and who they are as people. And it was cool to see them be able to impact the game today in a lot of different ways.

“The (rookies) that hooped, there was a competitive spirit to all three of them. Offensive rebounds, Ryan blocking shots at the rim, Sion (James) being the elite connector that he is in terms of rebounding and pushing and guarding. So, it was a great learning experience for all three and I’m not surprised by the impact that they had because they’ve earned that opportunity to be out there.”

Here are some other key takeaways from the Hornets’ season-opening win:

Miles Bridges’ form looks pretty good

Miles Bridges picked up where he left off in the preseason.

Bridges was a force against the Nets, efficiently pumping in 18 points to go with 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. He didn’t settle for jump shots, effectively taking the ball to the bucket and drawing fouls.

He’s attributed his sizzling performances to coming into training camp in better shape, having dropped some weight to become a bit leaner, just like when he arrived in Charlotte from Michigan State in 2018. And his outing against the Nets is just the latest noteworthy effort.

“Yeah, I felt good,” Bridges said. “Like I said, I’m really comfortable in this offense, and I’ve got to be the leader out there on defense. We’ve got a lot of guys who can put the ball in the hole, and we are going to try to utilize that the whole year.”

Lee lauded Bridges’ play.

“His discipline and consistency have been really impressive,” Lee said. “During a long offseason, you start off where everyone’s always motivated. It’s easy as the summer can drag on to lose that motivation. I think Miles did a great job of starting strong in the offseason and then he continued the whole way through. With his [offseason workout] plan, I think he’s coming in in better shape.

“He took a really committed approach to his body and his conditioning, and it’s really helping him. He’s guarding really well, and offensively we’ve challenged him to hit the glass to create more possessions for us. When he starts doing it at a really high level, it becomes contagious. He always has the ability to bring people along with him because they understand how hard he plays and competes.”

Collin Sexton is the sixth man

After taking contact from North Carolina product Drake Powell and working through the foul, Colin Sexton slapped the baseline a few times in rapid succession.

It was obvious the eighth-year veteran was having fun in front of his new home crowd.

Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton, left, guards Brooklyn Nets forward Tyrese Martin during action on Wednesday at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Nets, 136-117. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

“Just so that I can just relax, you know what I mean?” Sexton said. “Come to the free-throw line, make my free throws. I was upset I missed the first one. So I was like, ‘OK, now it’s time to redeem myself.’ It was one of those energy moments. I brought the energy right when I came in.”

Tapped as the sixth man in the opener, being summoned off the bench before anyone else, Sexton sparkled in his Hornets’debut. He posted 15 points on nine attempts, also distributing three assists. His play was infectious, and it’s obvious he’s going to be a key cog for the Hornets if they have any legitimate chance at ending the NBA’s longest playoff drought.

His production against the Nets was only the beginning.

“Oh, it was fun,” Sexton said. “It was definitely fun. Had a good time out there. I feel like when the ball is moving around, the energy is popping in the building and I feel like we do it, we’re doing it together. Allows us to get those leads.”

Welcome back, Tre

Tre Mann’s last regular-season game came in November. Yes, it’s been a while.

But that all changed against the Nets, when Mann came off the bench and tossed in 12 points in 20 minutes. And he had immediate impact.

He fed Moussa Diabate twice in three possessions for an easy bucket, unselfishly dumping it off to the Frenchman. Mann also had a steal and subsequent layup near the tail end of the first quarter, quelling any fears about his health after missing most of last season with a back issue.

He’s perfectly comfortable being in a reserve role.

“To be honest, I never really had the mindset to start or nothing,” Mann said. “I’m just going to compete either way, even if it wasn’t no starting spot. So, I feel like for me, I just look at it that way. I put myself into a six-man since I was the sixth man last year.

“I didn’t expect to come out and start, but I’m still going to compete every time. And if he sees it best for me to start this year, that’s what it is. If not, I’m good with whatever as long as I’m playing for real.”

This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM.

Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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Roderick Boone

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October 22, 2025
What kind of season is Hornets’ Brandon Miller poised for? NBA GMs chime in

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If the early tea leaves are any indication, at least one member of the Charlotte Hornets could be poised for a noteworthy 2025-26 campaign.

Brandon Miller was named as one of the players poised for a breakout season in NBA.com’s annual GM survey. Liam McNeeley was listed as one of the steals of the draft based on where he was selected, and Josh Longstaff was recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in the league.

For Miller, whose surgically-repaired right wrist seems to be fully healthy, it’s probably another mental hurdle cleared, similar to playing in his second preseason game in four days Thursday night. With league executives certain Miller is on track for a bounce back year, why shouldn’t Hornets’ talented swingman feel just as confident?

“I’m happy for Brandon,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “I do think that it’s always great whenever you get your flowers from your colleagues or people that watch your games. But I also know Brandon has an internal drive himself, so regardless of what the GM survey had said, he’s going to be focused on coming in and trying to help this team, help himself have a better third season.”

The preparations for this season are ongoing, the latest coming in the Hornets’ 122-116 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Coming off posting eight points against the Thunder in Charleston, S.C. four days earlier, Miller netted 14 points, connecting on 3 of 11 attempts in 23 minutes with two of those makes coming from 3-point range. His free-throw stroke looked good, buoyed by sinking all but two of his eight attempts.

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) moves the ball down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) defends during the second quarter of a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams USA TODAY NETWORK

Miller is navigating through the kinks, continuing to get acclimated with the taping of his wrist — which is something he’s been instructed to do — and working through the rust associated with not playing in an actual competitive game for nine months.

The Hornets hope Miller can pick back up where he left off prior to getting banged up in Utah on Jan. 15, suffering a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist that cost him the final 42 games of his sophomore season as a pro.

Has made a 3-pointer in 40 straight regular-season games, representing the longest streak of his career, and he’s drained more than one shot beyond the arc in 20 consecutive games, which is a career-best.

By totaling 1,827 points through his first 100 career games, he’s recorded the third-most in franchise history, trailing only Alonzo Mourning (2,123) and Larry Johnson (1,962). The 285 shots he’s nailed beyond the 3-point arc are the second-most in NBA history, leaving him behind Duncan Robinson’s top mark of 326.

“I think he made a ton of strides last year before he got hurt and he wants to build on that,” Lee said. “He’s built on his leadership on his time away from the game rehabbing. I thought he did a good job of focusing on what he could do.

“And what he could do was still impact our team with his leadership and his engagement everyday.”

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during the 1st quarter of a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams USA TODAY NETWORK

Whether that was whipping passes to teammates left-handed until he was medically cleared to begin using his right hand more. Or barking out observations from courtside. Watching game footage with others like the since-released Nick Smith Jr.

Pair that mentality and growth with the moves Miller has apparently incorporated into his repertoire, and it’s not hard to see why decision-makers around the NBA believe the 22-year-old is going to blast off to another stratosphere this season.

“I think from a skill standpoint he’s added so many things to his game,” Lee said, “and we’re going to continue to challenge him, and push him and make him a great two-way player, which is what he wants to embrace as well. Because he knows that if he is locked in and focused on the right things to help us win, he’s a monster.

“So, I look forward to Year 3 from Brandon Miller.”

Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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Roderick Boone

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October 10, 2025
Knicks declare In-Season Tournament a success after Friday’s victory over Heat: ‘It felt like a playoff game’

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After defeating the Miami Heat in miraculous, come-from-behind fashion on Friday, the Knicks now have a 2-1 record in In-Season Tournament play.

They project to go 3-1 hosting the reeling Charlotte Hornets in their group stage finale at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

The Knicks have played the Hornets twice this season and have defeated them by an average of 13 points.

Point differential will be critical for the Knicks in their pursuit of the In-Season Tournament cup championship.

There are still many hypotheticals determining whether or not the Knicks will advance to the knockout rounds in Las Vegas, but they did themselves a favor defeating the Heat on Friday.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Knicks can only secure an automatic In-Season Tournament berth under the following scenario: a Milwaukee Bucks loss to the Heat on Tuesday, with a Knicks blowout victory over the Hornets.

The Bucks have a point differential of plus-39 to plus-18 for the Knicks. If Milwaukee were to lose to Miami by one, the Knicks would need to defeat the Hornets by 21 to win the point differential over the Bucks and leapfrog them in the Wild Card standings.

The Indiana Pacers have clinched an automatic berth with an undefeated 4-0 record, the Bucks are 3-0 and can clinch with a victory in Miami over the Heat on Tuesday, and the Orlando Magic hold a 3-1 record after stunning the Boston Celtics on Friday.

There is a five-way tie between the Celtics, Cavaliers, Nets, Heat and Knicks in the East among teams that aren’t on track to secure an automatic bid to Las Vegas.

In the event of such a tie, point differential is used to determine which team will advance as a Wild Card in each conference.

The Heat project as underdogs against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks; the Cavaliers matchup against the Atlanta Hawks is a toss-up; the Nets will host the scrappy, athletic Toronto Raptors; and the Celtics, who have a point differential of zero, must blowout the Chicago Bulls by close to 30 points if the Knicks secure a double-digit victory over the Hornets on Tuesday.

A Heat blowout over the Bucks and a Knicks blowout over the Hornets could position New York for an unlikely automatic berth for the knockout rounds in Las Vegas.

WHAT ARE PLAYERS SAYING ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT

If it looks, feels and sounds like a playoff game, the NBA might have a hit on its hands.

Knicks star Julius Randle was complimentary of the league’s newest midseason wrinkle for the second time this season after Friday’s victory.

“It was fun. I think the In-Season Tournament brings a little extra juice. I don’t know. It was fun, it was good to get a win. It was the first one for the in-season on our home court so it was cool,” he said postgame. “Yeah it felt like we was fighting for the playoffs, it was cool.”

Immanuel Quickley, the game’s hero with 20 points off the bench, echoed Randle’s sentiment.

“It felt like a playoff game. Felt like a playoff atmosphere,” he said. “Nothing like being in The Garden when The Garden is rocking like that. You get chills throughout the game and stuff like that. So, it’s great to be part of.”

Knicks star RJ Barrett, who secured the game-winning stop on Jimmy Butler, said the tournament gives regular-season games more meaning.

“Everyone’s fighting for something,” he said. “I think the In-Season Tournament has made, especially these games, a lot more competitive, and I’m happy to come out with the win.”

Jalen Brunson said he’s excited there’s something else to win.

“As a competitor, you always want to win whatever is in front of you. No matter what it is,” he said. “So, just another opportunity really. Put me anywhere, I’m playing whoever.

“It was great. Court was better than I thought it would be. Fans were amazing as always. Happy they were behind me to get this win.”

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Kristian Winfield

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November 24, 2023
Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau on playing starters late in blowouts: ‘I’ve seen 13 points in 35 seconds’

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Tom Thibodeau didn’t say a word to Julius Randle or Jalen Brunson — or anyone for that matter.

His Knicks were up big on Sunday — a 21-point advantage with 1:20 remaining in an eventual 129-107 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, their third in a row — with a back-to-back looming against the Boston Celtics on Monday.

Thibodeau pulled Randle, Brunson and Mitchell Robinson from the game. As the lead ballooned, the three expected to play closing minutes in the fourth quarter.

A Thibs specialty.

Only four days earlier, the Knicks led the San Antonio Spurs by 30 with three minutes to go in the third quarter, and he played his starters until the 1:28 mark of the fourth quarter when no run imaginable could have powered the opponent back to victory.

Two nights before that, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue waved the white flag and sent James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook to the bench trailing the Knicks by 16 at the 4:25 mark of the fourth quarter.

Thibodeau played his starters for the rest of the period. The Knicks went on to win by 14.

Thibodeau has his reasons, reasons he explained after sitting the trio of Randle, Brunson and Robinson the entire fourth quarter, then leaving RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein on the floor for extended garbage time minutes.

Thibodeau subbed Grimes in for Barrett at the 6:59 mark of the fourth, subbed Hartenstein out for Jericho Sims 27 seconds later, then Miles McBride for Hart and DaQuan Jeffries for Quickley with just over three minutes left.

The odd man out, Donte DiVincenzo played the entire fourth quarter.

The rationale has its roots during earlier stints of Thibodeau’s coaching career.

He was a member of the Houston Rockets’ coaching staff on Dec. 9, 2004, the night Tracy McGrady went nuclear and scored 13 points in 33 seconds to power a remarkable Rockets fourth-quarter comeback over the San Antonio Spurs.

“He’s got a lotta trauma man,” Randle joked after sitting the fourth quarter. “He’s gotta work on that. He’s gotta work on that.”

Thibodeau said he can’t even relax when his team’s up big in the fourth quarter and he’s pulled his starters from the game. He wants his players to put everything they have into each and every play, each and every day, and he’s setting the tone on the sidelines — even if he’s got McGrady PTSD.

“In this league, no lead is safe,” Thibodeau said. “I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen 13 points in 35 seconds. So people will tell you ‘ah he needs to get the starters out of there.’ Yeah? Well I know what experience tells me.”

Brunson and Randle seldom experience rest the way they were spectators for the fourth quarter on Sunday. The quarter off came as a surprise for the two stars who expect to carry heavy minutes burdens this season.

“No he never tells me bro,” Randle said. “Mentally, I was ready [to go back in]. If they had one run, we was going back in for sure.”

“I thought I was going back in,” Brunson added. The Knicks floor general isn’t sure there’s a lead big enough for Thibodeau to feel comfortable pulling his starters for good: “Always got to assume [you’re going back in],” he added. “Always assume.”

With the second leg of a back-to-back on the road against the championship-contending Boston Celtics on Monday, Thibodeau hoped there would be an opportunity to sit his stars on Sunday.

“You never know how the game will unfold, and we were fortunate that it did [give our stars some rest],” he said. “And then the fact the bench is playing as well as they are, and our depth is really good. So finding that balance where the starters finding get that rhythm. But you got to play well. You got to make sure you’re doing all the things necessary to improve and win. So that’s where we were. I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

Brunson is happy he got a chance to rest — but he says he stayed locked in until the end of the game. Thibs would approve.

“Let’s be honest. Whenever we can win like that it’s definitely a good feeling,” he said. “I try not to check out at any point in the game. It is what it is.”

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Kristian Winfield

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November 12, 2023