Swarm and Sting
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The Three Biggest X-Factors for the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets

By Evan Birchmore

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 26: P.J. Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts with teammates Gordon Hayward #20 and Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 during the second half of the game at Spectrum Center on November 26, 2021 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 26: P.J. Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts with teammates Gordon Hayward #20 and Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 during the second half of the game at Spectrum Center on November 26, 2021 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Mar 27, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Kelly Oubre Jr’s consistency

To say Kelly Oubre Jr. had an up-and-down first season with the Hornets would be putting it lightly. After signing with the Hornets on a two-year, $26 million deal during the 2021 offseason, Oubre began the 2021-22 season on a torrid pace. In the season’s first half, Oubre posted four games of at least 30 points and entered the fringes of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year conversation.

As the season wore on, however, Oubre’s performance began to slip, eventually culminating in an uninspiring performance in the play-in tournament against the Atlanta Hawks in which Oubre scored three points on 1/5 shooting. Of his 14 highest-scoring games in 2021-22, all came on or before February 25th, and 13 of the 14 came on or before January 26th. His production generally equaled wins for Charlotte; in games that Oubre scored at least 20 points, the Hornets went 12-5. Contrarily, games where Oubre struggled typically resulted in losses for the Hornets, as they went just 10-13 in games that Oubre failed to score at least 10 points.

Now on the final year of his two-year pact and with the defensive-minded Steve Clifford on the sidelines, Oubre must regenerate the momentum that he had in the early portion 2021-22. With a clear need for wing production in the wake of Miles Bridges’ absence, Oubre has an opportunity to earn an expanded role this year if he can replicate his play from the start of last season. However, if his performance is more in line with the latter months of last season, he may find himself in an untenable position.

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