Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are the NBA’s most anonymous franchise, and the 19-63 record in 2024-25 did nothing to change that. The current iteration was established in 2004 as the Charlotte Bobcats — arguably the worst brand name in professional sport — before reclaiming the Hornets moniker in 2014, which at least gave them a connection to the original Charlotte franchise that had the good sense to relocate to New Orleans. Spectrum Center, a 19,077-seat arena in Uptown Charlotte, hosts a team that is testing the definition of “rebuilding” to its absolute limits.

Under Charles Lee, the Hornets are focused on developing young talent and constructing something sustainable, which is the charitable interpretation of a season that produced fewer wins than most teams manage before Christmas. The franchise sees better days ahead, because the current days offer nothing to see. Charlotte is a growing NBA market with genuine potential, but potential without execution is just a word on a whiteboard, and the Hornets have been staring at that whiteboard for the better part of two decades.

For Australian fans, however, the Hornets offer a genuine reason to pay attention: Josh Green, the Sydney-born wing who brings defensive intensity, three-point shooting, and tireless energy to a roster that desperately needs all three. Green appeared in 68 games with 67 starts in 2024-25, averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game — solid, dependable contributions from a player who does the thankless work that winning teams require. His presence in Charlotte gives Australian basketball fans a direct investment in a franchise that needs every supporter it can find.

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Club Profile

The Hornets enter 2025-26 in the rebuilding phase that has become their permanent address, with Josh Green providing a two-way presence on the wing that represents exactly the kind of unglamorous, essential contribution this roster needs. Charlotte has a loyal fanbase in the Carolinas and a growing market that the NBA would love to see succeed — but love and success are different things entirely. For Australian fans, Green’s presence provides a genuine reason to tune in and a direct connection to a franchise that is, charitably, a work in progress. The progress has been slow. The work continues.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com