The Charlotte Hornets will look very different when the new 2026-27 NBA season tips off.
Gone is star point guard LaMelo Ball, who the team traded away to the Minnesota Timberwolves, closing the chapter on that era of the franchise. In addition to Ball, the Hornets moved on from long-time forward Miles Bridges as well, sending him to the Phoenix Suns.
This means that Charlotte will move forward with multiple young pieces, such as Brandon Miller and Knueppel, as the main cornerstones for the team. Both Miller and Knueppel have the talent to make things happen, giving Charlotte some hope for the future.
Miller recently opened up about what to expect from the team heading into this season. Even he doesn't know what the Hornets will be, but he's excited tos ee how this energetic team gets after everything.
"Do I know if we are going to be good or great?" Miller said . "I know we are going to be a hard-working team. It's not about who makes the most shots. It's about who can play consistently at 110% every night. I think that's one thing we are going to take pride in."
The last time the Hornets actually made the playoffs was the 2015-16 season. The team has reached the NBA Play-In Tournament a few times, but they've never been able to get into the field.
"Every loss drives me," Miller said. "I'm not a guy that takes losing well. Any games we lose, I would be looking for that one again."
Miller will need to be the level of player that Charlotte expected when they drafted him with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Last season, Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steals over 65 games played.
Knueppel excelled as a rookie , averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. But his game was reliant on his three-point shooting, which was dynamic, with the rookie shooting 42.5 percent from deep.
His rookie season was so strong that Knueppel broke the NBA's all-time rookie single-season three-pointer record. He also broke the Hornets' franchise single-season record for threes during the 2025–26 season.
Both guys will have much more responsibility on their shoulders this season. If they can step up, the Hornets may have a chance to at least compete for a playoff spot, with the bottom of the Eastern Conference being weaker.
It's put up or shut up time for the Hornets, and this season could determine how the franchise builds the team out moving forward.
Charlotte opens the season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 21. They will then host the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 23 in the home opener.
