After seeing how easily the Hornets had handled the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, it's not crazy to wonder what the ceiling of this Hornets team truly has.
This just may be the deepest roster that the second generation Charlotte Hornets have ever had.
When was the last time the Hornets had a roster that can confidently roll out 10 players deep and not overwork their top guys?
The 90s?
Last night proved to the basketball world that the Hornets aren’t going to be looked down upon as the permanent basement-dwellers of the NBA anymore.
They’ve handed enough wins to other teams. Now it’s time to take.
And take they did.
By going into Oklahoma City and stomping a mudhole into the defending champion Thunder by the score of 124-97.
Charlotte shocked the world, posting 30 or more points each in the first three quarters, and limiting the Thunder to just 38 points in the second and third quarters combined.
It was the first time that the Thunder lost a regular season game at home to an Eastern Conference team since just under a full year ago on January 8, 2025.
It’s difficult to single one player out for being the reason why Charlotte was so dominant, but the catalysts were Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
Combined, the two went 12-17 from 3-point land, along with LaMelo Ball going 4-7 from deep as well.
Not only that, Moussa Diabate, who has become a fixture in this lineup as a glass cleaner nearly posted another double double with nine points and 12 rebounds.
The addition of PJ Hall has also paid dividends. Hall won over Hornets fans from his performance in the Summer League, and even more when he told reporters he was a Bobcats fan growing up, but ever since signing a two-way contract, Hall hasn’t looked out of place.
In the five games he’s played in, he’s averaged 20 minutes per game, 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and has made both 3-point attempts so far.
What Charlotte does with Hall once Ryan Kalkbrenner returns will certainly be something to keep note of, but regardless, he’s making a case to stay in the rotation, which could mean that Mason Plumlee's position is in jeopardy.
Apart from the stars in Knueppel, Miller and Ball, as well as the big men, Charlotte is also rolling out Sion James, Collin Sexton and Tidjane Salaun, who’s slowly developing a head of steam.
Perhaps this is a reactionary piece given how well Charlotte did last night. But if you think about it, there hasn’t been this much excitement about Hornets basketball in a long time.
Tremendous youth, solid star power, and attention to detail?
That doesn’t seem reactionary.
It may not be this year where the Hornets become a perennial threat in the Eastern Conference, but every team has to start somewhere.
General Manager Jeff Peterson has quietly built a potential powerhouse ready to take off at any given moment.
Last night was just a warning shot to the rest of the league. Be ready.