What Are the Realistic Expectations for the Hornets in the 2025-26 Season?
As the 2025-26 NBA Season approaches, Hornets fans are excited to see their team once again on the court. After a season where the team finished with one of the worst records in the NBA, there is optimism that the team will work its way out of the cellar of the Eastern Conference and put itself in contention for postseason play. However, do these Hornets have a chance to do that this season, or are they a year or two away from really being a consistent contender in the NBA? This will be Charles Lee’s second season coaching this squad, and he is still trying to integrate his culture within the team. So, it may be a long shot for the Hornets to make the postseason, but it is also possible that they could be the surprise team to make the playoffs this year due to several factors. These include the injuries to some of the top stars in the East and the fact that the conference is not that loaded with good teams. The 2025-26 season is one of optimism for the Hornets, but how they perform this season will determine if the team is closer to making some noise in the NBA or if they are still in the rebuilding phase.
Charlotte has some young, exciting players to watch, but they all have deficiencies that are holding them back. LaMelo Ball, the face of the franchise, is the team’s most popular player, but he needs to build up more muscle and become a more vocal leader. Brandon Miller is working his way back from a wrist injury and has also dealt with multiple injuries in his young career. Moussa Diabate is a young center that the team is excited about, but he needs to develop a long-range shot to adapt to the NBA's style. All of these players will be crucial to the success of the Hornets this season. Charlotte must also get off to a fast start this season. Last season, the Hornets struggled with starting games off fast and were always playing from behind. It felt like a never-ending story where they would start fast, but could not muster enough energy to either keep pace with their opponent or climb back in the game. With a bunch of new players acquired through the draft and free agency, it may take some time for everybody to adjust to the offensive and defensive schemes.
There is plenty of buzz around this team, and the building blocks of the new foundation are already being laid down this season. This season in particular will come with some growing pains, but due to the nature of the Eastern Conference, Charlotte may find itself in contention for postseason play. However, there are also expectations that this team is a year or two away from making some noise, and that is okay. Rebuilds take time. For some teams, they get there more quickly than others, and others remain focused on building the foundation brick by brick. Whatever the case, fans and the organization will know which path the team is on during the season.
