The Charlotte Hornets’ season opener offered a glimpse into the team’s youth movement — Ryan Kalkbrenner set the tone defensively, Kon Knueppel blended in seamlessly on offense — but one rookie was conspicuously absent from the storylines that followed. Liam McNeeley, the highly touted first-round pick expected to bring shooting and polish from day one, was nowhere to be seen in the box score.
For two games, McNeeley was a ghost on the Hornets’ bench — a first-round rookie with promise, potential, and not a single NBA minute. Then, on a chilly night in Washington, opportunity finally arrived — not by design, but by necessity.
With Brandon Miller out and Tre Mann exiting late in the first quarter after taking an elbow to the face, McNeeley was thrust into action for the first time in his young career. Despite being labeled as NBA-ready, McNeeley’s quiet debut wasn’t disastrous — but it was undeniably disappointing. The Hornets didn’t need him to take over; they needed him to belong. Instead, his first NBA game hinted at a player still adjusting to the speed, size, and confidence demands of the league.
To his credit, McNeeley didn’t force bad shots or overcompensate. But the passivity was notable, for a first-round rookie with expectations, this was a missed opportunity to make a first impression.
It wasn’t the triumphant debut fans might have envisioned, but at least it was a start.
Minimal impact in season debut
McNeeley checked in with just over four minutes left in the first quarter of Charlotte’s matchup against the Washington Wizards. The Hornets were already short-handed on the wing, and when Mann went down, the rotation opened — briefly.
In those early minutes, McNeeley stationed himself mostly in the corners and on the wings, serving as a floor spacer. He got two quick looks on the same possession — both long misses, one off the glass and one off the back rim — a reminder of how thin the margin is between rhythm and rust in an NBA debut.
After that brief four-minute stretch, McNeeley didn’t reappear until the final two minutes of garbage time, when the outcome was long decided. He made the most of that cameo by tallying two assists, including a nice swing pass to Sion James for a three: small sample, small impact — but something to build on.
Cracking Charlotte’s wing rotation
McNeeley’s limited opportunity isn’t a mystery. The Hornets’ current wing depth — Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, James, and Tidjane Salaun — covers multiple archetypes. Miller is a franchise centerpiece; Knueppel brings shooting and IQ; Bridges provides athleticism and creation; James and Salaun bring defense and energy.
That’s a crowded and functional rotation, and head coach Charles Lee has shown a preference for length, defense, and physical readiness in his early lineups. McNeeley, for all his polish and shooting pedigree, isn’t quite ready in those areas yet.
His preseason minutes hinted at both his value and his vulnerability — smooth release and smart positioning on offense, but inconsistent strength and recovery on defense. Against the Wizards, Lee’s use of McNeeley fit that context perfectly: spot duty when the rotation thinned, then back to the bench when the team re-stabilized.
Areas for development
For McNeeley, the blueprint for bouncing back is straightforward but urgent:.
The Hornets’ upcoming schedule includes matchups with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz — all teams that tend to play heavier in the paint and leave more perimeter space. Those kinds of games could create a natural opening for McNeeley’s shooting.
When that opportunity comes, the assignment will be simple: Take and make open shots. His spacing is his ticket to minutes. Play quickly and decisively. Compete defensively. Effort will matter as much as execution; avoid overthinking on closeouts.
If he does those things, he’ll earn a longer leash — even in short spurts.
Room to grow — fast
Every rookie has a learning curve, but context matters. Kalkbrenner and Knueppel made the most of their chances. McNeeley didn’t. That contrast will linger, especially for a franchise banking on its young core to accelerate development.
McNeeley’s opener wasn’t a disaster — just invisible. But in the NBA, invisibility can be its own red flag. For a player drafted to contribute right away, the Hornets need more urgency, confidence, and production.
For Charlotte, it’s clear McNeeley’s time will come in doses, not leaps. His feel and shooting give him a chance to become a long-term contributor. But in a rotation built around length, defense, and speed, he’ll have to prove that his mind and mechanics can match the league’s pace.
It wasn’t flashy, and it wasn’t easy — but for the Hornets’ first-round rookie, finally stepping onto an NBA floor was the first small step toward earning a real place in the lineup.