Hornet's Summer League Title Could Be Just the Beginning

Hornets Summer League

For the first time in franchise history, the Charlotte Hornets are bringing home a trophy. The team has officially been crowned NBA Summer League champions, and fans everywhere are celebrating. While it may not be the NBA Finals, this win means a lot to the city and the organization. It shows progress, promise, and a much-needed boost of confidence. After years of rebuilding and tough stretches, Charlotte finally has something to be proud of, and the energy around the team is changing fast. 

KJ Simpson

Sophomore players KJ Simpson and Tidjane Salaun were key parts of this summer league run. Even though Salaun didn’t play in the final three games, he showed real growth before that. His confidence in driving to the rim has taken a big leap, and he no longer looks hesitant with the ball. While his three-point shot still needs some work, especially avoiding deep contested looks, the potential is there. KJ Simpson, on the other hand, was easily the most valuable player on the team during this run. He did everything--scoring when needed, rebounding against bigger players, and dishing out key assists. Most importantly, he delivered in the clutch and helped carry the Hornets to victory. 

Hornets Rookies

The rookies also gave fans plenty to be excited about. Kon Knueppel looked like a future star with his all-around impact. Even in games where he didn’t light up the scoreboard, he made a huge difference by running the offense, making the right reads, and staying in control. He’s going to be a great fit next to our existing core. Liam and Kalk are shaping up to be absolute steals from the draft. Liam can score in bunches and that’s no surprise if you watched him in college. Kalk has quickly become a shot-blocking machine and gives off shades of Zach Edey. He’s not the fastest guy on the floor, but his timing and presence are strong. He might just be the starting center come opening night. As for Sion, we’ve seen a few flashes, but not enough to make a solid judgment yet. 

More than the individual players though, this summer league run has shown that something bigger is happening in Charlotte. There’s a real culture shift that fans can feel. Jeff Peterson and Charles Lee are quietly building something strong, and people are starting to notice. Chris Jent deserves a ton of credit for the way he coached the summer league squad, especially with how hard they defended. In the fourth quarters, the boys locked in on that end of the floor and made life miserable for their opponents. That level of effort and attention to defense is something this franchise has been missing, and it’s a big reason why they won it all. 

If the larger group keeps growing the way they have been, this summer league title could be remembered as the start of something special. The East is wide open this year with injuries piling up across several teams, and the Hornets could absolutely sneak into a play-in spot or maybe even more. They’ve got young talent, new energy, and a staff that seems to know what it’s doing. This Hornets championship might just be summer league, but it sets the tone. Charlotte has waited a long time for something to cheer about. Now, with this win under their belt, fans have a reason to believe.

Images: Hornets/r