Charlotte Hornets' Worst-Case Scenario: Key Players Struggle to Deliver
The Charlotte Hornets are facing a tough season ahead, and a worst-case scenario could play out if key players struggle to deliver. With LaMelo Ball's departure, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller will have to take on more responsibility, but their ability to handle the increased usage is uncertain.
According to databallr.com, LaMelo Ball had the ball in his hands 42% of the time when he was on the court and the Hornets had possession, one of the highest marks in the NBA. Miller comes in at 20.8%, and Knueppel trails even further behind with 13.5%. Those numbers for Miller and Knueppel will undoubtedly rise, but it may take them a year or more to adjust to the bigger load.
Rookies Steinbach and Anderson Jr. Fail to Contribute
The Hornets' rookies, Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson Jr., showed promise in Summer League, but their performance was inconsistent. Steinbach has questions surrounding his defense and positioning, plus an offensive skill set that is so versatile it's almost hard to figure out exactly how to use him best. Anderson Jr. has never been an impactful player on the boards, will have to fight to hold up defensively, and in the small Summer League sample size, he struggled adapting to the NBA's three-point range.
Coby White's Passing and Assist Numbers Remain Subpar
Even if you believe in Knueppel and Miller making significant self-creation jumps offensively, they certainly won't turn into primary table setters overnight. Dennis Schröder will help to some extent, but he's no ball-handling wiz at this stage of his career. The biggest burden falls on Coby White, who will replace LaMelo Ball as the starting point guard. White has handled bigger loads before, but his passing and assist numbers have always been fine, and he has never come close to reaching six or more assists over the course of a whole season.
Recent Form: 2W-0D-1L
The Charlotte Hornets are currently on a two-game winning streak, but their recent form is a mixed bag, with one loss in their last three games. Last result: New York Knicks 96-110 Charlotte Hornets (2026-04-12).
