Greensboro Swarm Earn First Playoff Win in Franchise History

Observations from the Swarm's victory over the Maine Celtics in the G-League playoffs

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:20am

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The Greensboro Swarm, the G-League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, earned their first-ever playoff win in franchise history with a victory over the Maine Celtics. Several two-way players and Hornets prospects, including PJ Hall, Tosan Evbuomwan, Tidjane Salaün, and Liam McNeeley, played key roles in the win.

Why it matters

The Swarm's playoff victory is another sign of the Hornets' organizational turnaround under new ownership. The success of the Swarm, which mirrors the Hornets' system and style of play, bodes well for the future of the NBA franchise as they continue to develop talent through their G-League affiliate.

The details

The Swarm leaned on strong performances from their two-way players and Hornets prospects. Liam McNeeley controlled the game as the primary offensive option, while PJ Hall showcased his versatility, operating as a roller, floor spacer, and even a pick-and-roll ball handler. Tosan Evbuomwan provided energy and physicality, while Tidjane Salaün struggled with his handle but made an impact on the glass.

  • The Swarm earned their first-ever playoff win on April 1, 2026.

The players

PJ Hall

A versatile big man who can operate in a variety of roles for the Swarm, including as a play-finishing roller, floor-spacing big, and pick-and-roll ball handler.

Tosan Evbuomwan

An intriguing prospect with NBA-ready athleticism, frame, and motor, Evbuomwan relishes contact and showed the ability to finish through it against Maine.

Tidjane Salaün

The 2024 first-round pick of the Hornets, Salaün struggled with his handle after returning from a calf injury but made an impact on the glass, pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Liam McNeeley

The most impressive of the Hornets' prospects, McNeeley controlled the game as the Swarm's primary offensive option on the wing, dicing up the Celtics with physical, committed drives.

Jonas Aidoo

The reserve center for the Swarm, Aidoo is a heck of a shot blocker and could receive a call-up to the NBA after a strong 2026 Summer League performance.

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What they’re saying

“I've been focusing on my physicality because in the NBA the physicality is just another step up. Doing it here and getting the reps is really important. The coaching staff has been great pushing me on that too.”

— Liam McNeeley

“He had an incredible game. It's been consistent for the whole season, but for the last two months he's been playing like one of the best players in the whole league. Like you said he can shoot it, he can drive it, he can handle, he can pass, so our offense when he's on the floor is so much more versatile.”

— DJ Bakker, Head Coach, Greensboro Swarm

What’s next

The Swarm will look to build on their first-ever playoff win as they continue their postseason run. The team's success could lead to call-ups for some of their top prospects, such as Jonas Aidoo, who has impressed with his shot-blocking ability.

The takeaway

The Greensboro Swarm's first-ever playoff victory is a testament to the organizational turnaround of the Charlotte Hornets under new ownership. The congruency between the Hornets and Swarm systems has allowed several Hornets prospects to thrive, showcasing the team's commitment to developing talent through their G-League affiliate.