The Charlotte Hornets’ season has undergone a brutal turn, and Tuesday night will only make things worse. They lost to the Golden State Warriors 128-92, which is not only another defeat, but also historic. The Hornets were the first NBA team to score more than 35 points in three straight games, which was a disastrous season regression.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Hornets have also become part of another serious NBA milestone during this winning streak. Their 53-point shooting percentage against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday set a new league record for the biggest blowout loss in a decade. The next night, the 42-point blowout against the Kings tied for the championship with the most important total loss rate in a row.
As their West Coast trip ends kindly, the Hornets have to face a tough problem. This collapse is just the result of injury, or is it pointing to something deeper in the team’s future structure?
Lamelo Ball’s struggle: reflecting the decline of the Hornets
The Lamero Ball is the engine that drives the Hornets. When he was doing well, Charlotte had a chance to fight. But recently, his struggle reflects the overall collapse of the team, raising more questions about his future in Charlotte.
In his last two games, Ball has released some of his worst figures of the season, with just 9.0 points on a 17% shooting percentage, including a 9% three-point shooting percentage. His Canadian sits at a shocking -25.0, further emphasizing his rough stretch.
The attitude towards the ball this season is nothing but friendly. Not only did he be left out for the All-Star Game, but his injury limited him to 36 games, preventing him from finding any real rhythm. As the Hornets grow spiral, the question remains: Can the ball rebound, or is it a sign of deeper concern?
Did the Hornets do another young work?
Despite 8.5 games following the Chicago Bulls Game 10, the Hornets’ push for the late season is not urgent. As another year of the playoffs passes, should the Hornets focus on the future?
The 2025 NBA Draft has elite prospects that can change the process of franchise. Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper played the headlines of the class, and the more the Hornets lost, the better their chances of landing the entire NBA talent in the future. At this point, closing it might be their best move.
The Hornets have been in a mediocre cycle for years because they have never been competitive enough to get a real playoff game. A complete embrace of the tanks will eventually get them out of this pattern and join Ball and Brandon Miller to get another franchise-changing player. But tanks aren’t just about losing, it’s about cultivating players, accumulating assets and building clear franchise directions.
In summary
The Hornets’ season history has unveiled with blowout losses, Lamelo Ball’s struggles and an increasingly uncertain future. Their focus may need to shift to getting the highest draft pick due to injury and inconsistent team troubles.
If Charlotte plays correctly, there is still hope in the future, but there is still hope in the future. Whether they tend to do a complete reconstruction or try to rebuild around the core in the future, the direction of the franchise will be determined in the coming months. The Hornets must continue to fight or embrace the tank, looking forward to 2025.
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