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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 29: Grant Williams(left) and Pat Connaughton of the Charlotte Hornets look on from the sideline during the first quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucksat Spectrum Center on December 29, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Charlotte Hornets have officially signed Pat Connaughton, shortly after waiving him on February 4.
Connaughton, 33, originally joined Charlotte in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks last July.
Selected 41st in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, he spent three seasons there before moving on to the Bucks, where he became a key rotational player and won a championship in 2021.
This season, Connaughton has appeared in 22 games with the Hornets, averaging 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in seven minutes per game. Not exactly eye-popping stats, but he brings a steadying presence as Charlotte rides its recent hot streak.
Connaughton’s Depth And Locker Room Presence for Hornets
Let’s be clear. The young Hornets have had their share of chaos this season. Injuries, and rotating lineups have made it tough to find consistency.
Connaughton helps fill that gap. He can defend multiple positions, and act as a calming voice from the bench.
For rookies like Kon Knueppel and other young players, having a vet who’s “been there, done that” is huge. Connaughton also gives coach Charles Lee a reliable wing option who can knock down open shots in the half-court game.
Charlotte’s 9-Game Surge
While Connaughton quietly returns, the Hornets are suddenly looking like playoff threats in the 2025-26 NBA season.
They won their ninth-straight game Saturday — beating the Atlanta Hawks 126-119 behind 26 points from Miles Bridges and 23 from Knueppel.
LaMelo Ball is playing like a true franchise cornerstone. He added 19 points and nine assists, Brandon Miller had 16, and Moussa Diabate grabbed 15 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
The Hornets started the season 4-14 but are now just a half-game behind the Hawks for ninth place in the East.
Since Christmas, they’ve had the league’s No. 1 offense and No. 1 net rating, a huge turnaround from last year’s 29th-ranked offense.
The streak could be credited to defense and trust on the floor, but the sharpshooting quartet of Bridges, Knueppel, Ball and Miller continues to be the major difference in them graduating from rebuild and making an immediate postseason push.
Adding a familiar veteran piece in Connaughton provides Charlotte the tools to continue this streak.
They can extend it against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, and maintain momentum before a rematch with Atlanta on Wednesday.
For a team that was expected to rebuild quietly, the Hornets are making some serious noise — and Connaughton is once again apart of that story.
Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn
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