NBA’s Most Exciting Team
The 2025-2026 Charlotte Hornets had an amazing year. From the NBA Draft Lottery to the NBA Draft Lottery, the Hornets gained a wealth of talent from picking Lamelo Ball with the 3rd pick in the 2020 draft. To selecting Brandon Miller with the 2nd pick in the 2023 draft, to selecting Kon Knueppel 4th in the 2025 draft. The Hornets for the second half of the NBA season had the best starting five in the league with the addition of Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, NBA Hustle Award winner. A mid-season trade to add starting-caliber sixth man point guard Coby White seemed like a lock for a deep playoff run. The lineup that went 25-7, a record that good seems like it sounds like a breakthrough of a new winning team. After losing in the NBA Play-in tournament to the Orlando Magic in blowout fashion, Hornets ownership did a franchise reset, trading exciting star players Lamelo Ball and Miles Bridges to new teams. I wonder if Charlotte made it to the playoffs, would they be giving up on the 25-7 starting lineup? From the views, Hornet leadership wanted a clean-cut look from their players, the San Antonio Spurs model. Where winning is a priority, and player emotion and off-court issues are nonexistent.
Rookie of the Year
Even while winning, the Hornets still did not accomplish the milestone of making the playoffs. Kon Knueppel, who had slightly better stats for the rookie compared to his college teammate Cooper Flagg. Surprisingly lost the rookie of the year to Flagg. Even breaking the rookie season and Hornets franchise 3-point made record and being on the NBA’s most exciting me. Voters gave the Flagg the head rookie honors, despite the team not being good, but had many high-scoring games including 51 against the Magic that ended the Hornets season. Fans should be included in the voting for league awards or a governing body that makes exceptions for greatness. Both players had amazing years; both players should have shared the rookie of the year award. It has happened in the past.
Highlight Tape
To make the playoffs without additional games, the Hornets had to make it 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. Playing close attention to their games, every time the Hornets made headway, they would lose an important game. Many top-ranked teams eventually highlighted the Hornets because they didn’t become another victim of the Hornets’ highlight reel. Lamelo’s dribble-stepback 3’s, Miles’ posterized dunk, or Brandon Miller halfcourt alley opp, and Eric Collins NBA’s best play-by-play announcer. Close losses near the end of the season gave them a record of 44-38, to which 5th and 6th seeded playoff teams had a record of 46-36. So close, but yet so far. I truly believe that the Hornets had one of the seeds; they would have made a deep playoff run. Two-game separation in standing does make sense to blowing up the roster.
The Last Game
Hornets play-in win versus the Miami Heat was a pure representation of the Hornets season. It was the last game for Lamelo Ball and Miles Bridges in a Hornets uniform. It was basically the last game for the entire team; at least they gave a memorable performance. The game against the Heat went back and forth. Lamelo, Miles, and Coby made game-winning plays, adding to a season of amazing highlights and memories. It was the best game of the NBA season apart from the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs finals series.
By Marc Coles Peters
