The Hornets delivered one of the best games this season in the victory against the Hawks on Friday with a healthy LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel. In a historic night, the Hornets’ big three are making waves of what could be a fantastic squad in the coming years.
Charlotte Spoils Trae Young’s Return
This Hawks-Hornets matchup on Friday highlights the return of Trae Young, who missed twenty-two games due to an injured MCL.
What was supposed to be one of the easier wins for Atlanta turned out to be an excruciating battle. Their defense seemed open; too open that they allowed the Hornets to make 18 three-pointers in the first half, tying an NBA record. The last team that did it? The Charlotte Hornets in March 2025.
Ball ignited from long range in his first game since December 5, shooting 8-for-11 from three, and finished the game with 28 points and 13 assists. Knueppel also had a 28-piece of his own, adding 5 boards and 7 dimes along the way. Meanwhile, Miller notched a super-efficient night: 26 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, as well as a 60-57-80 shooting split. Not to mention, Miller shook the crowd after a poster that could potentially be the Dunk of the Year.
Ironically, Ice Trae went ice cold after only getting 8 points in 20 minutes, but made up for it by dishing out 10 assists.
The Hawks did try to keep up with the pace, with Jalen Johnson recording 43 points, 9 assists, and 11 rebounds, plus Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 28 points, but the Hornets had too much momentum and drive.
A Healthy Trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel is Scary
Although the win versus the Hawks was celebrated by the fans, the Hornets are still stuck deep in the bottom of the standings. They’re currently the 12th seed, 9-18 in a wide-open Eastern Conference, and are far behind the next teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the lack of success, the Charlotte Hornets actually have a pretty good young core. That is, if they stay healthy.
LaMelo Ball is already averaging 19.9 PPG, 8.8 APG, and 5.9 RPG in 17 games. However, the 1-time All-Star has been battling recurring injuries. The 23-year-old guard has missed a total of 141 games in the past three seasons and is still trying to recover this year after a bruised ankle that puts him in minute restrictions.
Meanwhile, Brandon Miller, the 3rd pick of the 2023 draft, only played 27 games last season. In his return, the former Alabama standout is collecting 18.2 points, 3.9 dimes, and 3.9 boards a night in his 2025-2026 campaign, a slight downgrade from his usual numbers but still a lot better than most young forwards.
This season, the Hornets picked one heck of a rookie in Kon Knueppel, the former Duke prospect who’s currently logging in 19.4 points, 3.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting an excellent 40.9% from three and an outstanding 92.3% from the charity stripe. For most part of the start of the 2025-2026 season, Knueppel has been the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award.
They all played together against the Hawks on December 19th, and have shown just how scary they could be if they all stay healthy. They’re all under 23 years of age, and barring all injuries, the future is looking good in Buzz City.
Jalen Johnson is All-NBA Material
As early as now, we’re already calling it. Jalen Johnson will be an All-NBA member by the end of the season.
The 6-foot-8 star can do it all–score, make plays, rebound, and defend. In his 5th season, Johnson has already made a huge leap, averaging 23.6 points, 8.2 assists, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, all while also shooting almost 40% from the three-point line.
In December, Johnson already made five triple-doubles and would have had another one against the Hawks if he just recorded another assist. He is now second in total triple-doubles this season, just behind Nikola Jokic.
It’s obvious that the 24-year-old forward is a clear cut for the All-Star game, but with such poise and improvement, Johnson will climb up the ladder even more and get the nod for the All-NBA squad.
