After a spectacular run to close out the 2025-26 season, the Charlotte Hornets ensured that they would be a team to keep an eye on moving forward. Now, after making some dramatic changes to their roster this summer, there is even more reason to believe that the Hornets are must-watch basketball.
With the acquisition of Naz Reid and other key veterans, Charlotte has smoothly transitioned into a new chapter of their franchise. Although LaMelo Ball’s departure would typically raise questions about this team’s ability to compete, Hornets guard Coby White emphasized the team’s commitment to winning.
During a recent interview with The Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone, White touched on the Hornets’ roster and the level of belief the team has in itself. He shared:
“I think we’ve got a really, really good team. We’ve got a lot of really, really good players. I think we’ve got a lot of unselfish players, so that’ll make it easy in terms of coming together. A lot of us are already here now in Charlotte working out, so that’s a major step in- what is it, August? You don’t see that a lot in the NBA, so that already shows individually how bought in each player is.”
“For us, it’s just about doing it together, doing it as a collective, getting better each and every day on the court, off the court… 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, and what comes with the work is doing what we’re doing now.”
Given that it has been only a month since free agency began, it is impressive to see a young team embrace the grind and begin preparations for the new season. Currently, only a handful of teams have started doing so. With the San Antonio Spurs paving the way, following the example of a team coming off an NBA Finals run may be the template for excellence.
Although Coby White’s sentiments resonate with the fan base, there is every reason to believe that a new era led by a young core of Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller will be met with doubt. On that note, White addresses the naysayers, stating:
“I think we don’t got to say too much on it. Everybody’s going to have an opinion, and that’s just what comes with being in the NBA. I think it’s a great opportunity for us, in terms of the East getting stronger, playing against obviously high-level competition every night. But the East getting stronger, I’m excited for it. I think our team is excited for it. It’s going to be a challenge for sure.”
As Coby White mentioned, unlike previous years, the East is expected to be extremely competitive next season. With players like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard (tentative), and many more stars moving to the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Hornets are bound to face some stiff competition. Still, having made some key additions of their own, the Hornets are more than capable of holding their own.
Among the many players that Charlotte will look to next season, it is safe to say that Coby White will have some massive expectations thrust upon him. Although last season’s averages of 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game were solid, White will have a much bigger role to play as LaMelo Ball’s replacement.
As the Hornets’ primary facilitator, the 26-year-old’s job will be ensuring consistent offensive flow. However, with some exceptional talent surrounding him, fans can only look forward to seeing Charlotte’s offense when the team is humming.
