Do Positive Signs Matter? Not When It's The Same Old Hornets.

Charles Lee & Lamelo Ball

Every single year I have the exact same conversations with fellow Hornets fans.

• "This team has talent, though, right?"

• "If we could stay healthy, I wonder if we'd be good."

• "Why are other franchises, who were bottom-feeders just a few years ago, turning things around right in front of our eyes while we have made no progress?"

These conversations--amongst many other things--have legitimately been had for 5-7 years now. Hornets fans enter the year believing that we have more talent than the year before, believing that this is the year where the franchise takes a step forward. So, if you ask me whether or not to get excited about some positive signs from this young Hornets team? Unfortunately, while I will acknowledge and celebrate them, the answer is no. Those positive signs do not matter. Want to know why? Because this team is 4-13 after 17 games in 2025. This season is as close to over as the past 5 Hornets teams who have had an almost identical record through the first month of the season.

Kon Knueppel

The Positives: One thing is for sure: this front office found some gems in the 2025 NBA Draft. Kon Knueppel has been our best player this season by far, and he has been relied on as our number one option on many occasions. I wish he didn't have to be, though. Ryan Kalkbrenner, the second-round center, has also impressed around the league. He is contributing offensively and finds himself high on the list of total blocks in the NBA this season. And, it's important to mention Sion James as well. He is showing strong signs of being a contributor in this league and being a strong defender; whether he should be starting just yet is probably a sign of the state of this team, though. What's Going On: First off, we have to acknowledge the injuries. Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller--our two key pieces--have both missed a handful of games this season. They are easing their way back at the moment, and the franchise is managing their minutes, but missing them for extended period puts this team in a tough spot. As much as I love these rookies, you can not--in good conscious--win in this league while starting three of them. We need our stars to be on the court.

At this point in time, though, you'd be a fool to believe that injuries are our only problem. In fact, with all of our players healthy on Saturday versus the Clippers, we still got blown out. Sure, Melo and Brandon were on minutes restrictions, but we still took no pride defensively and allowed nearly 60 points to James Harden, in 2025. This franchise has debilitating systemic issues that keep this team losing whether we are healthy or not. Our culture is not there yet; none of us see a passion or drive to turn this team around for the fans. I'm someone who tries to focus on the positives and build players up as much as I can. But, at some point there can be no more excuses; we are losers, we are bums. Nobody in the league bats an eye when they play us, and unfortunately fans can't do anything about that. It's up to the franchise. Until those systemic issues get turned around, until the players, staff, and management acknowledge how much of a colossal failure they have been, we will continue to make NO PROGRESS.