It's been a long time since the Charlotte Hornets have been even remotely relevant in the NBA. Led on the court by a healthy LaMelo Ball (knock on wood), this team has grown by leaps and bounds this season. And they are almost ready to be a factor in the Playoffs, possibly as soon as now.
The Hornets franchise was established in 1988. In the early 2000s, things got confusing. The Hornets moved to New Orleans, then the Charlotte Bobcats were founded, and eventually they got the name Hornets back. They've been the Hornets since 2014, which comes with other baggage.
As of the end of the 2024-2025 season, the Hornets are the only team in the league to have never won a division title. They're also one of two teams to have never won a conference title. In an odd twist, the other team is the New Orleans Pelicans, formerly known as the New Orleans Hornets.
The Charlotte Hornets' planning is finally paying off
Being that Charlotte has never won a division or conference title, it's safe to assume that they've never been to the NBA Finals. There were a few times in the 1990s and early 2000s that they made the conference semi-finals, but they haven't won a playoff series since 2002.
In 2020, the Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball third overall. He would go on to be named Rookie of the Year in 2021 and an All-Star in 2022. Ball was supposed to be the beginning of bigger things in Charlotte, but season after season of brutal injuries to LaMelo slowed the process down dramatically.
That didn't stop the Hornets from making plans. Over the past few years, they have both drafted and traded incredibly. Now, their roster includes Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sion James, Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salune, Liam McNeeley, and a current Rookie of the Year candidate, Kon Knueppel.
The mood is about to change in Charlotte
For the first time in years, Ball is healthy, his game is firing on all pistons, and he's surrounded by a squad of young guns who complement him perfectly. While the roster still has some growing to do, they are in a position to make some noise in the postseason right now.
Charlotte is currently hanging on to 10th place in the Eastern Conference with their first .500+ record since 2021-2022. That puts them in the Play-In Tournament with a chance to fight their way into the Playoffs. Even if they don't make it this season, they are well-positioned for the future.
If the Hornets are able to acquire an established, high-impact center as a starter in the offseason, this is a team that could easily become legitimate contenders as early as 2026-2027. Charlotte is on the verge of reclaiming their 90's greatness and likely exceeding it.