Locked On Hornets - Daily Podcast On The Charlotte Hornets

Kon Knueppel isn't just playing well for a late lottery pick; he is playing like the best rookie in the NBA. Walker Mehl and Doug Branson discuss Kon's second straight week atop the NBA.com Rookie Ladder and why he is separating himself from the pack. We look at his high usage, efficiency, and how his play style is translating faster than anyone expected. We also touch on the contributions of othe...

Walker Mehl goes solo to recap the Hornets loss to Toronto and whether the Hornets were robbed by the officials after today's 2 minute report. Did you miss what the refs missed? How did the Raptors alter Charlotte's shot profile? Walker wonders if the Hornets are sneak tanking before finishing with thoughts on Tre Mann's struggles to begin the season.   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…...

We finally have some good news to share on the injury front. Hornets PR announced that Brandon Miller was assigned to the Greensboro Swarm for practice and then recalled. We explain why this procedural move is a fantastic sign and suggests the team's original two-week timeline was accurate. We look at the schedule and target a potential return date for Miller. Miller's absence has been a blessing...

This victory was built on the back of the center play, a spot that was supposed to be a major weakness. Ryan Kalkbrenner was incredible, fresh off the birth of his first child. He put up 17 points, tying his career-high, on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting, anchoring a defense that totally bothered Milwaukee at the rim. Alongside him, Moussa Diabate was a relentless force, grabbing 13 rebounds, includin...

The Charlotte Hornets pulled off a 111-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, defined by their most aggressive, physical performance of the season. The defense set the tone, holding the Bucks under 30 points in all four quarters. The story of the game was the center rotation. Ryan Kalkbrenner, fresh off the birth of his first child, put up 17 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting, dominating with his "ba...

Doug Branson is flying solo on today's show as the team prepares for the Milwaukee Bucks. The program begins with the biggest issues facing the Charlotte Hornets, starting with the mystery around LaMelo Ball's ankle impingement. Doug addresses fan frustration following LaMelo's brief Greensboro Swarm practice assignment, noting the lack of clarity around the injury is reaching a "boiling point". ...

Walker goes solo to talk about the growing LaMelo Ball question: Is it worth it anymore? Walker looks at the pros and cons, what life without LaMelo looks like, and everything the Hornets have to consider regarding LaMelo's future. How does Kon Knueppel's play impact the LaMelo conversation?   #Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #CharlotteHornetsFollow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…  🎧 https://li...

Doug flies solo to cover the latest Hornets loss to the Miami Heat, an NBA Cup game that got out of hand quickly. The first quarter was a disaster, with the team giving up 53 points, largely fueled by seven costly turnovers that led to easy transition buckets for Miami. The game highlights the two biggest storylines for this team: injuries and rookies. The injury list is brutal, with LaMelo Ball,...

We're focusing on the bright spots, and it doesn't get much brighter than Kon Knueppel’s start to the season. We’re seriously looking at his case for Rookie of the Year. His odds are third-best in the class, and his numbers are fantastic. He's second among rookies in scoring and is shooting an incredible 41% from three on over seven attempts per game. He's on pace to shatter Keegan Murray’s rookie...

We're back to talk about the injury bug, and it’s hitting the Hornets hard. We start with the frustrating news about LaMelo Ball. That "ankle impingement" that ended his season last year has returned , and it's clear this isn't just "load management". This recurring issue is a major concern, especially now that the team's identity is built around his specific talents and the team has finally put c...

This one stings. We're here to talk through one of the most painful losses of the season, a 116-112 defeat where the Hornets collapsed against the previously winless New Orleans Pelicans. Charlotte was in control, holding a lead for much of the fourth quarter, but everything fell apart in the final minutes during a brutal 11-0 run by the Pelicans. Fans are pointing fingers directly at coach Charle...

The team had an up-and-down weekend, splitting their two home games. The first contest was a 122-105 loss to the physical Minnesota Timberwolves , a game where LaMelo Ball played despite a new right ankle impingement injury. This loss reinforced a trend: this team struggles against bigger, stronger opponents, especially while missing Grant Williams and Brandon Miller. However, in the second game,...

Walker goes solo to discuss LaMelo Ball's latest appearance on the injury report and why his game-time decision against Minnesota is a big one. The Hornets pick up team options on Tidjane Salaun and Brandon Miller, but the interesting conversation surrounds Brandon's deal NEXT year. Finally, Walker explores what rookie success means for the Hornets despite losing games.   #Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloB...

Welcome to Locked On Hornets. The team has taken a second straight divisional rival beatdown, this time losing 123-107 to the Orlando Magic. This was a game where the Hornets knew they were the smaller, less physical team, and the desperate Magic took full advantage. Orlando bullied the Hornets at the rim, and the Hornets' offense collapsed, giving up 29 points off turnovers. We'll spend time on t...

Walker Mehl and Doug Branson bring back a show staple: "Stang'n or Clang'n." They start with the positives, and there's no bigger positive than rookie Kon Knueppel. He's set an NBA rookie record for threes in his first five games and is shooting 58% from deep. The hosts look at his impressive probing, passing, and even his defense, which has earned praise from Coach Charles Lee. Then, it's time fo...

The Hornets' hot start came to a screeching halt in Miami. Doug Branson opens up the autopsy report after a 144-117 blowout loss to the Heat. This was the Hornets' first real defensive test of the season, and they failed it. The defense gave up 20 threes and couldn't get back in transition, often due to frustration on the other end. That frustration was epitomized by LaMelo Ball. After showing inc...

The "Big Dub Hat" is officially out! We celebrate a huge Hornets win over the Wizards, a team that gave us fits all last season. It was a weekend split after a tough loss to Philly, but the real story is LaMelo Ball. After one bad possession against the 76ers had critics calling him a "losing player," LaMelo responded in a massive way. We discuss his 38-point triple-double—a franchise record for p...

Walker goes solo to discuss the latest in the Terry Rozier situation. Did the Hornets know about the investigation before trading Terry Rozier to Miami? Does it matter? The show moves to a focus on the roster around LaMelo Ball finally complimenting his game and bringing the most out of his abilities. Finally, Walker takes a look at the Hornets/76ers matchup. #Hornets #LaMelo #LaMeloBall #Charlott...

We wanted to come on and celebrate a one-and-oh start and a fifth-straight season-opening win, but a massive story has overshadowed the game. Former Hornet Terry Rozier, along with Chauncey Billups and others, has been arrested as part of a wide-ranging investigation into illegal sports betting and rigged games. We must discuss the specifics of the allegation, which stems from a March 2023 game wh...

What a beautiful game to watch. The Hornets started the season with a dominant 136-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, a performance that earned them a standing ovation in the renovated Spectrum Center. That 136-point total is a new Hornets franchise record for a season opener, and the offensive crispness was a night-and-day difference from last season. The story of the night was the connection be...

We've made it—this is the last stop before the 2025-26 regular season begins. To get things started the right way, we're firing up the "Rotation Station" for one final time. We know LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges are locked in as starters, but the other two spots remain the biggest questions. We'll look at the case for starting Collin Sexton at the two-guard, which feels like a 75%...

It is finally opening week for the Charlotte Hornets. As we prepare for Wednesday's opener against the Nets, there's a different feeling around this team—a level of seriousness we haven't seen in years. We'll identify the biggest storylines heading into the regular season. It all starts with the leaps we need to see from the dynamic duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller; Melo needs an efficiency j...

The local experts from the Locked On NBA Channel kick off the Locked On NBA Squad Show East by breaking down which team the Eastern Conference runs through after major injuries to the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. Join Nick Angstadt, Tony East (Locked On Pacers), Gavin Schall (Locked On Knicks), Philip Rossman-Reich (Locked On Magic), David Ramil (Locked On Heat), and a cameo from Matt Moore...

The roster is finally set. The Hornets made their final cut ahead of the October 22nd season opener, and in a somewhat surprising move, they waived veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie. The battle for that last spot was always between Dinwiddie and Pat Connaughton, and we’ll look at why keeping Connaughton’s $9 million contract makes sense for future trades. This decision also serves as a vote of confi...

That was, by far, the best game of the preseason. The Hornets went nuclear, putting up 145 points in a performance that felt like a return to the fun, league pass darlings of a few years ago. The entire game was capped off by an unbelievable, all-star caliber play: LaMelo Ball with a nutmeg on Jock Landale into a full-court, left-handed alley-oop to a streaking Brandon Miller. We have to start wit...