Nobody from the 2019-20 Charlotte Hornets roster made Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 NBA Players list, but one old friend did get a fair placement on the list.
If you’ve been paying attention to Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 NBA Players of 2020 list, then you’ve probably noticed something — there hasn’t been a single Charlotte Hornets player included, and barring a miracle, it’s going to remain that way.
They have yet to release their top 10 players on the list, but we can safely (and sadly) assume that no Charlotte Hornets player will be present. I can’t say I was expecting to see anyone on the list to begin with, but there’s always next year.
My guess is that the closest Hornet to make the list would be Miles Bridges, considering Cody Zeller is coming off an injury-plagued season and Terry Rozier didn’t show very much during his final season in Boston. Bridges definitely opened some eyes with his play as a rookie, averaging 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 21.2 minutes.
At the end of the day, it’s just a list, right? Plus, opinions always differ.
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One player who did make the list was former Charlotte Hornets franchise guard Kemba Walker. The new Celtic came in at number 20 on the list, which is a fair ranking.
Jeremy Lamb, who is now with the Pacers and another player Hornets fans are familiar with, was not ranked in the top 100, which is ludicrous, if you ask me.
Last season in Charlotte, Walker averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists, whereas Lamb averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. They were the two leading scorers for the Hornets and obviously had a lot to do with the wins they did get.
Walker signed a four-year, $140 million contract with Boston early on into the free agency period. Lamb signed with Indiana on a three-year, $31.5 million. Lamb’s contract, in particular, was one of the bigger steals in free agency, in my opinion.
With those two no longer in the picture, the Hornets need another player(s) to step up and take on a new role. Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier are the two players that come to mind. They could be in for a very productive season and could crack Top 100 list next season.
Given that the Hornets don’t have a top 100 player in the NBA, according to Sports Illustrated, it will more than likely be a long, rebuilding season in Charlotte. That’s old news, but the reality hits the light again after seeing no Charlotte player on the list.
We will soon find out who steps up for the Charlotte Hornets during the 2019-20 season. Training camp officially begins later this month, and preseason begins on October 6th. Hopefully not having any current players on this list will motivate the players and play with a chip on their shoulder throughout the season.