Aug. 6, 2026, 7:47 p.m. ET
The Charlotte Hornets missed the playoffs last season despite their highest win total in a decade.Following key player departures, prediction markets give the Hornets a 41% chance to make the postseason.The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are given the highest playoff odds at 99%.Five other teams, including the Grizzlies and Bucks, have playoff chances of 15% or lower.
The Charlotte Hornets failed to make the playoffs last year for the first time since the 2015-16 season, falling one game short after losing to the Orlando Magic in the NBA Play-In Tournament. However, it was still an impressive campaign by all accounts, as the Hornets’ 44-win season was their highest total in the previous 10 years.
Following the departures of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, many fans are skeptical about Charlotte’s chances to break their playoff drought. According to prediction market Kalshi, the Hornets have a 41% chance to make the postseason, the 11th best mark in the Eastern Conference, 15% lower than the closest competitor from the East, the Atlanta Hawks.
As expected, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs lead the pack at 99%. As for teams with the smallest chance, five squads have been given a 15% chance or lower, those being the Memphis Grizzlies, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings.
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