The NBA's schedule for the 2025-26 season is officially out, and the Charlotte Hornets have a chance to achieve something truly special. They've never started a season with better than a 3-0 record, and they'll have a chance to eclipse that mark with how the start of next season is panning out.
Charlotte will officially open up next season on October 22 at home against the Brooklyn Nets. From there, it'll be an October 25 road matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, then an October 26 game against the Washington Wizards on the second night of a back-to-back. The final matchup of the three-game road trip will be in Miami against the Heat, on October 28.
I'm ready to say Charlotte can win all four of those games and begin their campaign with a 4-0 mark for the first time in franchise history. It may be something of a bold prediction, but I think the pieces are falling into place for it to happen.
Conditions are right for the Hornets to start the season fast
My reasoning here is twofold. The first of which being the specific opponents they're up against here. Brooklyn is one of the few teams in the East that everyone agrees will be worse than Charlotte next season. Then after that, Philly is likely to be coming into that matchup injured.
In game number three, it's not exactly a secret that a little rivalry has been brewing between the Hornets and the Wizards this summer on social media. I believe Charlotte will get up for that one, even on the second night of a back-to-back. Then against the Heat, I think the Hornets' core will be more prepared and sharp early into the season than Miami's.
The second reason I think Charlotte can pull this off is the way in which they've wisely reshaped the roster this summer. It's no surprise that this offseason has been considered among the fanbase as one of the best they've seen in recent years, and it leaves a lot of excitement in the air. The core of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller have a better supporting cast around them than ever before.
Several of the rookies are going to push for playing time right away, and I see several new guys like Kon Knueppel having early success in their first few NBA games. The adrenaline will be flowing, and I think the Hornets are going to shock some folks. It's just the perfect conditions for this record to be broken, so I'm banking on it happening.