Hornets Make NBA History Despite Play-In Loss

Charlotte finishes with top stats of any team to miss playoffs since 1984

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:08am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a Hornets basketball game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in vibrant teal, purple, and white colors.The Hornets' impressive statistical season is captured in a cubist, geometric deconstruction of the team's play.Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets ended their season with a play-in loss to the Orlando Magic, but the team still made NBA history. Despite finishing 9th in the Eastern Conference, the Hornets had the 4th best point differential in the East and 8th best in the entire league. They also had the 4th best net rating of any Eastern Conference team. The Hornets finished the season with 44 wins, tying the 7th most in franchise history.

Why it matters

The Hornets' impressive statistical performance despite missing the playoffs shows they were one of the better teams in the league this season. Their young core led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller has the potential to make them a force in the Eastern Conference in the coming years if they can build on this season's success.

The details

The Hornets were led by the sharpshooting trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel. They finished the season with a 44-38 record, the best since the 2015-16 season when they went 48-34 and reached the playoffs. Despite the play-in loss to the Magic, the Hornets had the highest net rating (+5.0), margin of victory (4.83), and simple rating system (4.48) of any team to miss the playoffs since the NBA transitioned to the 16-team format in 1984.

  • The Hornets finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 44-38 record.
  • The Hornets lost their play-in game against the Magic on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star point guard who averaged 20.1 points per game this season.

Brandon Miller

The Hornets' leading scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game.

Kon Knueppel

One of the Hornets' key sharpshooting players this season.

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What they’re saying

“The Charlotte Hornets officially finished with the highest net rating (+5.0), margin of victory (4.83), and simple rating system (4.48) of any team to miss the playoffs since the NBA transitioned to the 16-team format back in 1984.”

— Justin Russo, NBA Journalist

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing play-in loss, the Hornets' impressive statistical performance this season shows they were one of the better teams in the NBA. With their young core led by Ball and Miller, the Hornets have a bright future and could be a force in the Eastern Conference in the coming years if they can build on this season's success.