Swarm and Sting
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Kobe’s challenge for each Charlotte Hornets’ player

By Chase Pletcher

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 28: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets talks to Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after the Hornets defeated the Lakers 108-98 at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 28, 2015 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 28: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets talks to Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after the Hornets defeated the Lakers 108-98 at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 28, 2015 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 14: Marvin Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets walks off the court against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on December 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 14: Marvin Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets walks off the court against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on December 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The Starters

Kemba Walker: Make the All-NBA 3rd Team

We will start with the captain. Kemba already earned a great achievement last season by making the All-Star team. Why not keep trending upwards?

Making an All-NBA Team is difficult enough as it is. Making an All-NBA Team as a point guard?Even more so.

I could spend all day listing out all the great point guards in the league, and Kemba certainly is one of them. No, he’s not considered to be at the very top with guys like Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook. However, John Wall and Isaiah Thomas made All-NBA team’s last season. If Kemba can take another big step this year as he has every year he’s been in the league, his level of play shouldn’t be considered too far off of those guys.

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The team as a whole will need to have a great season. That’s what could help Kemba out whenever voters are contemplating over their ballot’s. For example, the Celtics had a phenomenal regular season that helped IT jump into the national spotlight.

There’s probably an upwards of ten point guards that have shot for one of the teams. If Kemba is able to surprise some people it will most likely be the third team. That would be an amazing accomplishment, so don’t count him out.

Nicolas Batum: Prove You Earned Your Contract by Averaging 15p, 7a and 7r

Nic can still greatly improve upon last season without upping his scoring all that much. I think that if he can add seven APG and seven RPG to his statline along with 15 PPG, he’d prove he earned his contract. Those stats were only achieved by three players last season. LeBron James. James Harden. And Russell Westbrook. That’s pretty good company to be a part of.

I think this is a very attainable goal for Nic as well. He’s always been one of the more underrated triple-double and 5×5 threats in the league. He’s basically just a jack of all trades.

His superior height allows him to easily grab rebounds over most people at his position. The court vision he possesses allows him to be the best passer on the team. With an added shooter in Malik Monk and highly efficient big man in Dwight Howard, there’s reason he can’t reach seven APG for the first time in his career.

Much of how people view Nic will also hinder the team’s success. I’d say if the team can come within a few games of winning 50, that will also help out how people view his contract.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Make an All-Defense Team

This is something that we’ve all seen MKG be capable of. Last year was far from MKG’s best season on the defensive side of the ball, so let’s hope that was a fluke and not a sign of things to come.

Even last year, along with some of his previous seasons, he still received a few votes on the All-Defense ballot. I’d even argue that if he hadn’t had such bad luck with injuries, he would’ve been granted the honors once already.

To be quite honest, Kidd-Gilchrist needs something like this. It’s unlikely he’s ever going to become a reliable offensive player despite being a number two overall pick. His defense is the only thing keeping some from labeling him a complete bust. Even with his defense, the notion that he’s a “bust” is still thrown around by people.

Compared to his former Wildcat teammate that was drafted first overall, Anthony Davis, those people may have a point. If MKG can receive an accolade like this he may be able to avoid the label of a bust. It would be a miraculous feat to break into the first team as a SF with Kawhi Leonard there, but the second team isn’t too much of a stretch.

Marvin Williams: Shoot Over 40% From Three

In the ‘15-’16 season Marvin Williams did something he had never done before in his career. Yes, you guessed it, shoot over 40% from beyond the arc. His sharp shooting in that season helped him be able to sign a big, new contract that offseason.

Much like Batum, Marvin wasn’t bad this past season, just disappointing. He still had eerily similar averages over the past two seasons, except he only shot threes at a 35% clip this past one.  

As he keeps getting older and older, he will need his shooting to keep him in the league. He’s already a little undersized for the power forward position, so he will really need his ability to stretch the floor on his side.

It’s a little unclear whether or not his starting spot is actually under threat, or if that’s just speculation. Getting back to shooting at least 40% from three will not only dictate what his role with the Hornets will be like the next couple of years but also will be a factor in how long he can stretch out his career.

Dwight Howard: Rekindle Your Relationship With the All-Star Game

For eight straight years, Dwight found himself still playing basketball over the All-Star break. After a three year layoff, it’s time for him to get back there.

Considering his age, this will be the hardest he will have ever had to have worked to make an All-Star team. If there were to be a team where he could get it done, though, the Hornets are the one.

Steve Clifford may be one of the few people who completely understands Dwight. After years of working with him in Orlando, he knows what it takes to make him be at his best. Judging from his offseason, Dwight seems to be dedicated to getting back to at least a shell of his former self.

It’s not completely unheard of in sports for an athlete to experience a rebirth late in their careers with the right team. There’s always the possibility an experiment like this could fail. But maybe, just maybe, Dwight has enough left in the tank to silence his haters with one more All-Star season.

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