Hornets offseason outlook: Experience, maturity will be crucial for Charlotte to take the next step

After a dominating display of basketball after the turn of the calendar year, the Charlotte Hornets — for reasons unknown — reverted back to their immature, frustrating and irresponsible ways during the play-in tournament.

LaMelo Ball grabbed the ankle of Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo as he was in the air, causing the 6-foot-9 big man to fall on his back and miss the rest of the game, which the Hornets won.

Ball, who should have been ejected, stayed in the game, which left a sour taste in the mouths of NBA observers.

One game later in Orlando, the Hornets completely imploded. Miles Bridges, a man with a stark and dark history of violence, was seen clearly hitting Magic guard Desmond Bane when both of them were on the floor, fighting for a loose ball.

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Once again, the call turned in favor of Charlotte, with Bridges staying in the game, only this time, no advantage seemed to matter.

The Hornets could barely produce points, and their defensive symmetry was entirely nonexistent.

For a team that so many favored to make the playoffs, sympathy turned — and quickly — due to the return of its bad habits and general lack of maturity.

2025-26 finish

Record: 44-38, 9th in the Eastern Conference. Eliminated by the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament.

Highlight of the season

The in-season turnaround showed this team does have the technical capabilities to achieve more than what has otherwise been expected of them, which only makes the end to the season so disappointing. The Hornets went 33-16 from Jan. 1 on, outscoring opponents by an average of 10.2 points per game, signaling considerable upside.