Earlier this season, Bill Simmons anointed the Charlotte Hornets as a must-watch team on League Pass. The statement raised some eyebrows, including Zach Lowe’s. However, over two months into the 2025-26 campaign, Lowe finally sees why Simmons was right about the Hornets.
In a recent episode of his show, Lowe admitted to being wrong when he questioned Simmons’ high League Pass ranking for Charlotte. He said that the Hornets are “really fun, especially now that they’re healthy.”
Lowe brought up the fact that the team has a plus/minus of +32 in the 164 minutes that LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel have played together. That’s quite a staggering number, considering that they are still learning to play alongside one another.
It’s also a shame that we haven’t seen them play for much more together on the floor because of injuries. Just when it seems Ball and Miller have finally gotten a clean bill of health, it’s Knueppel’s turn to get injured. There is a sense of optimism that the rookie won’t have to spend too much time on the sidelines, though.
A fun and deadly trio
Hopefully, Knueppel can return to the floor soon enough, as Charlotte is a much better team and much more fun to watch whenever he and the rest of the core are healthy. With Ball’s top-tier playmaking that can even rival that of Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, Miller’s expanding offensive bag, and Knueppel’s incredible shot-making for his age, the squad can undoubtedly keep up with many of the league’s best teams.
Of course, fans want the Hornets to be more than just the League Pass darling Simmons has described them as. The goal is to become a contender, especially since their playoff drought is about to hit 10 years if they miss out on the 2026 postseason. To do so, they have to address some roster holes, including the lack of additional playmakers and a better fit at power forward.
However, the foundation is already set in place with Ball, Miller, and Knueppel, as they have displayed the ability to carry the offense. Understandably, there is a high level of concern about the defense with those three starting alongside one another. The good thing is that Miller has already shown improvement as a defender, while Knueppel has been an underrated team defender since his college days. It’s up to Ball to utilize his length and athleticism to be more effective on that end of the court.