Hornets' Coby White Given Strong Ranking In Top NBA Players List

The Charlotte Hornets will be coming into the new 2026-27 NBA season ready to prove themselves to everyone around the league.

Charlotte made the Play-In tournament in the Eastern Conference a year ago, but the team failed to get into the actual postseason. It has been over a decade since the Hornets reached the playoffs, but this group feels like this year could be the time for them to break the drought.

The Hornets had a bust summer, undergoing massive changes around the roster to build toward the future. The big move was trading away star guard LaMelo Ball, giving the keys to the franchise over to a youth movement.

With Ball gone now, veteran guard Coby White will be taking over as the starter for this group this season. White came to the Hornets last year at the trade deadline, and he saw some success with the team.

In 21 games with Charlotte, White averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest, while shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. White decided to return to the Hornets this offseason, agreeing to a three-year deal to remain with the team.

Now, entering the new season, the veteran guard has been making waves around the league, and he has been ranked in the top-99 of players in the NBA. White came in ranked at No. 92 by Bleacher Report's NBA Staff.

This is a solid ranking for the veteran, showing that there is belief in him entering this crucial season. White will be tasked with taking on more responsibility this year, running the Hornets' offense in different ways.

If White can step up his game, namely his assist numbers, Charlotte could be in for a special season. The success of the Hornets won't all fall on White's shoulders, but as the point guard, he will get a lot of the blame.

White will also be replacing Ball, so his play will show whether the Hornets were justified in trading away the star. There is a lot of faith in White coming into the season from the Hornets, and the team is confident in his game.

But whether the veteran guard can step up enough remains to be seen when the season starts up soon. White has never had to be the point guard like this for a team, and the Hornets are counting on him to deliver heavily this year.