Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White has tumbled 23 places in ESPN's annual ranking of the top 100 NBA players. White, who was ranked 71st last season, now sits at 94th for the upcoming campaign. The Hornets are coming off a 110-96 victory over the New York Knicks on April 12, part of a recent run of three wins in their last five games.
The significant slide in the rankings comes despite a solid personal season for White. After being acquired from the Chicago Bulls in February, he averaged 15.6 points per game in 21 appearances for Charlotte. His shooting splits were efficient, hitting 46.1% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 83.9% from the free throw line.
Combining his time with the Bulls and Hornets, White finished the 2025-26 season with a 17.4 points per game average. The seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft holds career averages of 15.4 points per game. His role is set to expand dramatically next season as the team's starting point guard following the offseason trade of LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.
White expressed strong optimism about the Hornets' new direction in a recent interview. "I think we've got a really, really good team," White told the Charlotte Observer. "We've got a lot of really, really good players."
He highlighted the team's early commitment, noting many players are already in Charlotte working out in August. "You don't see that a lot in the NBA, so that already shows individually how bought in each player is," White said. He believes building chemistry off the court is just as important as on-court execution for this group.
"We've got a chance to be a really good team and surprise a lot of people, but we've got to put the work in," White added. "And what comes with the work is doing what we're doing now."
Charlotte is expected to start a formidable five next season. The lineup features Coby White at point guard, Brandon Miller, rookie Kon Knueppel, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabaté. On paper, this group presents a blend of scoring, youth, and defensive potential that could challenge Eastern Conference opponents.
The team's recent form shows flashes of that potential. Their last five results include wins over the Knicks (110-96), Minnesota Timberwolves (122-108), and Indiana Pacers (129-108). They also suffered losses to the Detroit Pistons (100-118) and Boston Celtics (102-113). Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
The Hornets' previous campaign concluded with another playoff miss. They managed to defeat the Miami Heat in the first NBA play-in game but fell to the Orlando Magic in the second contest. This extended the franchise's postseason drought, adding urgency to the current roster rebuild.
White's individual performance was a bright spot during the transition. His ability to score efficiently from all three levels provides a reliable offensive foundation. The Hornets will need him to elevate his playmaking and leadership to justify a higher ranking next year and help the team exceed expectations.
