The Charlotte Hornets aren't sneaking up on anyone anymore—they are putting fear into other teams outright. What started with a young team needing another year or two to become competitive has morphed into one of the league's most dangerous playoff matchups, powered by one of the best three-point shooting attacks in the league. If the threes start falling early, they bury opponents.
When almost more than half of your active rotation shoots above 40% from beyond the arc, you stop being a cute regular-season story and start becoming a legitimate postseason problem. Currently, Kon Knueppel is the league leader in three-pointers made this season over players like Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell. LaMelo Ball isn't that far behind him. This Hornets team can shoot the ball.
There's evidence to back up the fact that Charlotte has the potential to make a deep run if they make the playoffs.
History tells the full story
The most recent example of high-profile three point shooting taking you immensely far into the playoffs is the 2024-25 Indiana Pacers. In their second-round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, The Cavaliers were the team to beat as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with the second-highest team net rating in the NBA at +9.5. Yet, the Pacers almost swept them.
Indiana won the series 4-1 and the only reason they lost the one game was because they shot single-digit three-pointers made (nine 3PM). In their four other wins, they averaged 15 three-pointers per game. Also, the efficiency of that shot was off the charts. Again, in their four wins, they converted an astronomical 44.5 percent of the threes. Cleveland struggled to defend the perimeter and it came back to bite them.
It isn’t the only factor, but there is a positive correlation that top-tier three-point shooting directly translates to playoff success. The Hornets have the metrics, ranking first in threes made per game and third in three‑point percentage—numbers that mirror recent champions. Look back at the 2023–24 Boston Celtics during their title run: they led the league in threes made and finished second in percentage made. In today’s NBA, efficient perimeter shooting is so valuable.
That’s why it’s no stretch to say Charlotte is building something reminiscent of the Warriors’ dynasty blueprint. This franchise is no longer considered a running joke. They’re shooting the ball at a jaw‑dropping clip. In a seven‑game series, that kind of firepower becomes a nightmare. One explosive run can flip a game, a quarter, or an entire series before the opponent even knows what hit them.