By February 13, 2026
Photo: Kurt Shackelford / CLTure
In Charlotte’s 35-year NBA history (excluding the two years after the original team left the city for New Orleans), there has been only one stretch of sustained success with real national relevance. In 1992, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” ruled the radio waves and MTV, Dr. Dre released The Chronic, the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis were the gaming consoles of choice, and Batman Returns, Lethal Weapon 3, and Sister Act were the top-grossing films. After drafting Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning in back-to-back offseasons, beginning in 1992-93, the Hornets became a fixture in the playoffs, reaching the postseason in seven of the next ten seasons and advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals four times.
Hornets President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Peterson, was officially hired in March 2024 as the youngest lead front-office executive in the NBA at 35 years old. Photo: Kurt Shackelford / CLTure
What followed was a long cycle of false starts, baffling ownership decisions, and years spent as the league’s punchline. But after a nine-game win streak — Charlotte’s longest in 27 years — it finally feels as though a new era of Hornets basketball may be taking shape.
A Clear Vision at the Top
The Hornets’ current ownership group, led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, has reinvigorated the franchise. Their pitch of Charlotte becoming a “premier franchise in the NBA” initially sounded like a pipe dream to those who had followed the team over the previous two decades. But their actions have shown that this is not hollow public relations — they are actively following through.
Renovations to Spectrum Center, plans for a new state-of-the-art practice facility, and the hiring of one of the youngest head coaches in the league, Charles Lee, alongside President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson — both with stellar track records — all helped drive the shift. The basketball operations staff has been expanded, while business operations have been reformed under Shelly Cayette, who has overseen commercial revenue growth despite on-court struggles. Most importantly, there is now a clear and coherent strategy: no more quick fixes and no more chasing the eighth seed. There are even fan-friendly initiatives, including a limited number of locally streamed games and a new $2 food menu at Spectrum Center.
Fans already loving the new Hugo’s Hive menu with hot dogs, pretzel bites, popcorn, Dasani water, and sodas all just $2 dollars, available outside sections 108, 116, 216, and 225. 🌭🥨🍿🥤 pic.twitter.com/qyzPkGbHNg
— CLTure® ( culture ) (@CLTure) February 10, 2026
There aren’t many new ownership groups whose first major move is trading away key players like PJ Washington, Gordon Hayward, and Terry Rozier for future draft capital. How does that help you win games or attract investors in the short term? Schnall and Plotkin were unconcerned with short-term optics or the possibility of being mocked for losing. They understood that for Charlotte to return to relevance, there had to be a slow, deliberate build, and Jeff Peterson was the executive aligned with that vision and capable of executing it. Nearly three years after purchasing the team, they are finally beginning to reap the rewards of that patience. So, what were the main drivers behind Charlotte’s nine-game winning streak?
LaMelo Ball has now played in 29 straight games for the first time since 2022, leading up to the All-Star break. Photo: Alex Cason / CLTure
Health Finally Turning Around
According to “In Street Clothes,” the Hornets ranked 28th in the NBA over the last two seasons in games missed due to injury. Since January 1, however, they have been one of the healthiest teams in the league.
While LaMelo Ball’s minutes restriction and limited availability in back-to-backs have presented challenges, he has now played in 29 consecutive games for the first time since 2022. Jeff Peterson recently revealed in an interview with WFNZ that the minutes limit was his decision, and the early returns suggest it’s working.
Following a season-ending wrist injury and surgery, Brandon Miller is averaging 20.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game this season. Photo: Kurt Shackelford / CLTure
Brandon Miller has shaken off the rust following season-ending wrist surgery last January, while Grant Williams and Josh Green have returned from significant injuries and contributed at a high level. Some of this may be long-overdue injury luck, but it is unlikely to be a coincidence that Charlotte appointed Patrick Chasse as Vice President of Medical Services and Peter Elliott as Head Athletic Trainer during the offseason. Either they are bringing good fortune with them, or they are very good at their jobs — and the latter seems far more likely.
Moussa Diabate Changes the Tone
Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner started the first 26 games of the season for the Hornets until a sprained left elbow on December 21 forced him to miss time. Moussa Diabate stepped into the starting lineup and hasn’t looked back. Since then, the team is 15-7 with Diabate averaging 29 minutes, 8.8 points, 10 rebounds (4.0 offensive), 2.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. His relentless energy on the offensive glass has been a catalyst for the Hornets’ offense, helping them win the possession battle and generate high-percentage three-point opportunities off his kickouts. Diabate ranks second in the league in offensive rebounding per 36 minutes among players with over 1,000 minutes, trailing only Donovan Clingan.
Diabate doesn’t have the size, length, or strength of a traditional center, but his presence allows Charlotte to vary its defensive strategy by frequently switching assignments. Since he was inserted into the starting lineup, the Hornets’ defensive rating has jumped from 25th to 7th in the league. How Charlotte fares without Diabate during his upcoming suspension following the “Unrest at the Nest” brawl with Detroit will be telling.
Since Moussa Diabate was inserted into the starting lineup, the Hornets are 15‑7, with their defensive rating rising from 25th to 7th in the league, while Diabate is averaging 29 minutes, 8.8 points, 10 rebounds (4.0 offensive), 2.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game during that span. Photo: Kurt Shackelford / CLTure
A Young Core Growing Up Together
The Hornets have embraced a selfless approach, not relying on any single player during their winning streak. Knueppel’s career-high 34 points helped deliver the win against Dallas; Ball spearheaded the comeback against New Orleans; Diabate battered the Grizzlies; and Miller torched the 76ers. In some games, it hasn’t even been clear who Charlotte’s best player was. This is the epitome of team basketball, with everyone finding joy in others’ success. No All-Stars, no problem.
At first glance, LaMelo Ball’s stats might suggest he’s having a down year, but the eye test tells a very different story. Ball is playing a more mature, balanced style of basketball this season. Is it because he has learned that last year’s shot-heavy approach wasn’t conducive to winning, or simply that he is now surrounded by better teammates? Probably a bit of both. Either way, he has shown clear growth in several areas.
Ball hasn’t publicly expressed frustration with his minutes limit and has even volunteered to come off the bench in back-to-backs so he can play more in the fourth quarter. He’s cut his low-percentage pull-up threes from 6.5 attempts per game last year to 4.5 this season. He’s also trusting the pass more in key moments — a signature example being when he crossed over Victor Wembanyama, drew the defense, and kicked it out to Green, who then swung it to Miller for an open three. That play didn’t show up on the stat sheet for him, but it symbolizes the progress he’s made. Last year, he would have taken the 12-foot floater instead.
Brandon Miller with a trio of TOP-SHELF triples in Q2 🔥
He’s got a game-high 18 PTS… Hornets lead at the break on Prime! pic.twitter.com/7yuSiQQcNo
— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2026
But it’s not just Ball. Brandon Miller has taken his game up a level defensively while looking more controlled and composed with the rock in his hands. The rookie class continues to play a major role, with Kon Knueppel delivering one of the most efficient rookie seasons in NBA history. Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner anchor Charlotte’s second-unit defense, and when they’re on the floor, the Hornets boast a 111.5 defensive rating — placing them in the 85th percentile.
Despite fielding one of the youngest rosters in the league, Charlotte doesn’t play like an inexperienced team. Their attention to detail, unselfishness, and steady internal growth are driving a legitimate push toward the playoffs.
Charles Lee and the Team Identity
Charlotte’s second‑year head coach and his staff have pushed more of the right buttons this season, and perhaps that shouldn’t be a surprise. Fellow head coach Kenny Atkinson once said, “That first year, I didn’t know what I was doing. I just had to learn. That’s why they always say the second time around you’re a better coach.”
In his second full season as head coach of the Hornets, Charles Lee is implementing his system and establishing a clear identity, with the team fully buying in.
It’s easy for fans to praise or blame head coaches for everything, but their staff of assistants play a critical role — scouting opponents, developing game plans, and working individually with players on their growth. The Hornets have seen improvement across the roster, from young players like Tidjane Salaun to veteran contributors like Josh Green.
The team now has a clear identity on both ends of the floor.
Charlotte prioritizes generating high‑percentage catch‑and‑shoot threes, ranking seventh in the league, often through a drive-and-kick system. They create openings using unique guard-to-guard screening actions, where Knueppel, Miller, and Ball have all excelled. The Hornets aren’t blessed with dominant isolation players, so they get players moving downhill by coming off a variety of screens designed to confuse defenses. The playbook has become increasingly complex as the season has progressed — a sign the staff trusts the players’ basketball IQ and work ethic to absorb new concepts midseason, often with limited practice time.
The Hornets currently rank seventh in the league in catch‑and‑shoot threes this season, with rookie Kon Knueppel shooting an impressive 43.1% from deep. Photo: Jon Graham / CLTure
The Defense
Defensively, Charlotte compensates for a lack of elite one-on-one defenders by employing a heavy help system to protect the paint. You’ll notice players digging off the ball and rotating to close driving lanes, a strategy that relies on clear communication. The staff has even experimented with creative defensive tactics to limit Steph Curry, and while the plan didn’t fully succeed — with Charles Lee taking some criticism from Draymond Green — the team’s willingness to buy in demonstrates a high level of trust in the coaching staff.
Rookie Sion James, guarding Steph Curry in Charlotte on December 31 at Spectrum Center, exemplifies a defense that has fully bought into Coach Lee’s system. Photo: Alex Cason / CLTure
Lee has achieved the toughest part of coaching: getting his players to consistently give maximum effort every night, as evidenced by their 8‑3 record in back-to-back games, tied for second-best in the NBA. But the Hornets are not just playing hard — they are playing smart. The players have fully bought into Lee’s system, executing at a level that lifts team performance above individual talent. ESPN’s win projections reflect that buy-in, now forecasting Charlotte for 39 to 42 wins, well above their preseason over/under of 26.5.
Since Diabate entered the starting lineup on December 23, Charlotte ranks third in both offensive and defensive rebounding, first in limiting opponent free throws per game, and first in limiting opponent corner threes per game. These achievements reflect core principles of the coaching staff’s system: rebounding requires effort, avoiding fouls requires discipline, and limiting corner threes requires off-ball defensive execution. Success in these areas only comes when the entire team is fully bought into the coaching staff’s vision.
The nine-game winning streak may be over, but the bigger story remains. A new era of Charlotte Hornets basketball has arrived.
Be sure to catch Kon Knueppel in the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Game on Friday, February 13, at 9:55 p.m. on Peacock, and the State Farm 3-Point Contest on Saturday, February 14, at 5 p.m. on NBC.
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