The new NBA season will be getting started very soon. But when does the Charlotte Hornets season begin?
The 2026-27 Charlotte Hornets will look very different from the last time that this team took the floor a season ago.
Star guard LaMelo Ball and forward Miles Bridges are both gone, following massive offseason trades. Charlotte has embraced a youth movement with this roster, giving the keys to the organization to forward Brandon Miller.
The new season will be kicking off shortly, with teams starting to come together for training camp very soon. But when does the Hornets' season actually start?
Charlotte has four preseason games this year, with the first one scheduled for October 6 against the Brooklyn Nets at home. The Hornets will then continue the preseason schedule on October 11 against the Milwaukee Bucks, also at home.
The final two preseason games will be on the road, with Charlotte traveling to face the Boston Celtics on October 14. And then finally, the Hornets will play the Memphis Grizzlies on October 16.
Charlotte will officially kick off the 2026-27 NBA season on the road against the Nets, coming on October 21. The Hornets will then return for their home opener against the Atlanta Hawks on October 23.
This year should mark the start of a new era for the Hornets, with a new franchise player taking charge. Miller will be tasked with stepping up even more this coming season, and the fate of the Hornets' season will rest on his shoulders.
But given where he is in terms of his player development, the Hornets feel good about their chances for Miller to fully break out. Last season, Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game for the Hornets, playing in 65 games.
Without Ball on the floor, Miller will be called upon to do more of the scoring for this team. Many are expected Miller to grab his new role and run with it, potentially leading to him securing his first All-Star appearance this year.
Next to him will be second-year forward Kon Knueppel, who will try to pick up where he left off last season. Knueppel was great for Charlotte as a rookie, breaking the three-point record in a season for rookies.
All in all, the Hornets feel very good about where they are as a franchise coming into this season. While this team may not be seen as a title contender, the offense should be electric once again, giving them a chance to at least make the playoffs.
