CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Nets are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season.

They looked the part in Wednesday’s opener. And, at least on early returns, their tank appears safe.

The Nets got run out of the gym by a Charlotte team that may be every bit as disincentivized as they are.

They trailed from the first quarter on, and got routed 136-117 before a sellout crowd of 19,516 at Spectrum Center.

“We weren’t good on defense at all, especially in transition,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “Offensively we got some good looks, but we’ve got to be more organized and together as a team.

“We definitely need to have a sense of urgency and figure out our identity. We’ve got to figure that out as a team. It’s the first game; can’t overreact. But at the same time we saw some glaring problems, individually and collectively.”

To say the Nets played poor defense at the point of attack would be kind, suggesting they defended at the point of attack.

They got outscored 23-5 on the fast break — 18-0 in the first half — and ended up allowing 53.3 percent shooting.

“We just got to execute better from top to bottom — all five guys on the court, the bench. Our energy. We just all have to be better, for real,” Nic Claxton said. “It starts on a defensive end … our energy just has to be better. And when we face adversity, we all have to be better. Everybody.”

Nic Claxton looks to pass as he is defended by Ryan Kalkbrenner during the first half of the Nets’ 136-117 blowout road loss to the Hornets at the Spectrum Center on Oct. 22, 2025. Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images

The Nets (0-1) took a record five first-round picks in the June draft, and four of them played Wednesday, with a late scratch of Danny Wolf.

On a team this young, expect more nights like this. A lot more. And a couple of afternoons as well.

When the going got tough, the Nets came apart.

“When we faced adversity, we all went separate ways. And I have to figure out the way to keep us together and be better,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “So I’m the first one to be disappointed at myself and try to figure it out.”

Cam Thomas makes a move during the first half of the Nets’ opening-night blowout road loss to the Hornets. Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images

“We had a game plan where we had to do things in a certain way, and 5-23 on fast-break points, and we didn’t defend the rim, we couldn’t defend the 3-point line. So all those things that go with KYP [know your personnel]. There’s a first game and at some point there’s a lot of emotions. And we’re just doing things with no purpose, just running around. You run around hard, but you gotta know exactly what the call is, what your positioning is.”

Brandon Miller had a game-high 25 points for Charlotte, while point guard LaMelo Ball added 20 and eight assists.

The only Nets who were really effective were Claxton (17 points) and Day’Ron Sharpe (15 points on 6-for-7 shooting), who tried to keep the Nets alive on putbacks.

Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks Nic Claxton’s shot during the first half of the Nets’ opening-night road loss to the Hornets. AP

But the presumptive offensive go-to players — Cam Thomas and Porter — never got going.

Thomas had 15 points on horrid 2-for-9 shooting after struggling from the floor all preseason.

And Porter mustered just 12 points on 5-for-15 overall, 2-of-7 from behind the arc. When that duo is misfiring, this team has no chance.

Ben Saraf was the only rookie to start, getting the nod at point guard ahead of lottery pick Egor Dëmin.

LaMelo Ball drives past Ziaire Williams during the first half of the Nets’ opening-night road loss to the Hornets. Getty Images

Saraf had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists without a single turnover, acquitting himself fairly well.

Dëmin had 14 points and five boards off the bench, while fellow point guard Nolan Traore and wing Drake Powell each got in seven minutes of garbage time.

And there was plenty of that to be logged.

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“As a team we crashed the offensive glass, but we got to figure out if we’re going to do that, we’ve got to get back as well,” Porter said. “Otherwise we can’t crash because this game in the Toronto game, it felt like it was just a highlight reel. Teams running out, getting dunks and all that. And that’s unacceptable.”