Charlotte Hornets' Season Ends in Familiar Fashion, But Future Looks Bright

Despite another Play-In Tournament loss, the Hornets have built a strong foundation for the future under new ownership and leadership.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or competition, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the action on the court.The Hornets' season may have ended in familiar fashion, but the team's young core and new leadership have set the stage for a bright future in Charlotte.Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets' season came to an end with a loss to the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament, marking the third straight year the team has fallen short in the postseason play-in game. However, this Hornets team feels different from past iterations, with new ownership and leadership focused on building a sustainable winner in Charlotte.

Why it matters

The Hornets have been stuck in a cycle of early postseason exits, but the investments made by new owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, as well as the work of team president Charles Lee and GM Jeff Peterson, have positioned the franchise for long-term success with a talented young core led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

The details

Despite the disappointing end to the season, the Hornets have made significant strides this year. They opened a new state-of-the-art practice facility, overhauled their training staff to keep key players like Ball and Miller healthy, and saw major development from young players like Kon Knueppel, Sion James, and Ryan Kalkbrenner. GM Jeff Peterson has also proven adept at roster management, executing a multi-year trade tree that landed them Coby White.

  • The Hornets' season ended on April 18, 2026 with a loss to the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
  • The Hornets are set to open a new state-of-the-art practice facility sometime next season.

The players

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star point guard who made a case for an All-NBA team selection this season.

Brandon Miller

The Hornets' third-year forward who took a major leap this season, proving the sky is the limit for his potential.

Kon Knueppel

A Hornets rookie who could be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in the coming weeks.

Rick Schnall

One of the Hornets' new owners who has stated the goal of turning the franchise into one of the premier teams in the NBA.

Gabe Plotkin

The other new Hornets owner who, along with Schnall, has invested heavily in the team's infrastructure and organizational growth.

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What they’re saying

“We must push the chips in and go for it. The cards are good enough now to do so.”

— Jeff Peterson, Hornets General Manager

What’s next

The Hornets will look to build on this season's progress and take the next step as a franchise, with a focus on developing their young core and continuing to make smart roster moves under GM Jeff Peterson's leadership.

The takeaway

After years of early postseason exits and lottery finishes, the Hornets have finally built a strong foundation for long-term success under new ownership and leadership. With a talented young core led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, and a front office committed to player development and roster building, the future is bright for the Charlotte Hornets.