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2025-26 Charlotte Hornets Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 9/29/2025

Charlotte Hornets predictions LaMelo Ball

The Charlotte Hornets were bitten by the injury bug last season, and there is suddenly optimism brewing with the Hornets fanbase heading into the new season. Charlotte has the star talent needed to make the playoffs, but keeping their stars healthy is the biggest concern heading into the new season. Can the Hornets make a surprising run up the standings in a wide-open Eastern Conference, or will it be a tenth straight season without playoff basketball in Charlotte?

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Charlotte Hornets Offseason Recap

The Charlotte Hornets put together a crafty offseason to surround their emerging talent with proven NBA veterans. Spencer Dinwiddie, Pat Connaughton, Mason Plumlee, and Collin Sexton have all put together respectable NBA careers, and the quartet will now call Charlotte home this season. While cracking into the starting lineup will be tough for these veterans, the impact they will have in the locker room and during practices cannot be overstated. 

The biggest acquisition the Hornets made this offseason was through the NBA draft. With the fourth overall selection, Charlotte secured the services of Kon Knueppel out of Duke. Knueppel is the perfect scorer for the modern-day NBA. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands very often to be effective, and will complement the Hornets' on-ball players like LaMelo Ball nicely. His spot-up three-point shot is already at an NBA level, but he can’t create his own shots very well with just a 14.3% off his dribble. His quickness still needs work on the defensive end, but he is usually in the right spot and will develop into an average NBA defender by the season’s end. 

Losing Mark Williams was always going to dominate the headlines in Charlotte, but that was a move the fanbase knew was coming. His failed physical stopped his deadline move to Los Angeles, and the Hornets now have the interior size needed to overcome his departure. 

Charlotte Hornets Season Expectations

While there is optimism in Charlotte that this team is heading in the right direction, tangible rewards this season will be hard to obtain. LaMelo Ball will always give them a chance to win on a nightly basis, but staying on the court has been a real problem since he joined the league. He has suited up for just 43% of the Hornets' games across the last three seasons, and is still dealing with lingering injuries heading into the new season. Ball’s situation in Charlotte feels a lot like Trae Young’s situation in Atlanta a few years ago. An offensive superstar that can carry a mediocre team to around a .500 record when healthy. Ball has the potential to be a real game-changer in Charlotte, as Young has been in Atlanta. However, the franchise can’t build a roster around him if they can’t rely on him to stay healthy over the course of an 82-game season. 

Aside from Ball’s injury problems, the Hornets have a few nice pieces to root for this year. Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges are both physical players who can be real difference-makers, and all three, including Ball, averaged 20+ PPG last season. Knueppel’s introduction will elevate the Hornets' scoring even further, making this a team that can upset anyone on any given night. 

Charlotte Hornets Schedule Breakdown

The Hornets open up the year against the Nets, 76ers, Wizards, and Heat, which could give them a chance to build some early momentum. This isn’t a team full of confidence heading into the year, which means getting off to a fast start is essential for their faint playoff hopes. Charlotte avoids any lengthy road trips this year, with one five-game stretch out West and a four-game road trip at the end of the year, their only extended absences from the Spectrum Center. Their NBA Cup group isn’t the toughest to navigate, as they face the Knicks, Bucks, Heat, and Bulls in November. 

Charlotte Hornets Odds

The Charlotte Hornets have a win total of 26.5 this season, and are +880 long shots to make the playoffs. The Hornets have finished with 19 and 21 wins in the last two seasons, but injuries have played a significant role in their poor results. We have yet to truly see what this team is capable of when all its players are on the court, and the oddsmakers expect the Hornets to improve compared to their performance over the last two years. If the Hornets can’t keep Ball and others healthy, they could be in the running for the worst record in the league at +1400. 

2025-26 Charlotte Hornets Season Predictions and Best Bets

Charlotte is expected to improve this year, but we simply can’t trust them to do so with minimal offseason reinforcements combined with several injury-prone stars. The Hornets will finish with a 20-62 record this year, falling well short of their 26.5 win total. There are certainly bright spots on this roster, but the best ability in the NBA is availability. If the Hornets' stars can’t suit up, they will consistently lose despite the fact that they have an easy schedule in the Eastern Conference. Fourth pick Knueppel isn’t capable of creating his own shots and will need support to find early success. The Hornets will finish last in their NBA Cup group and will even flirt with the last-place record in the NBA. At +1400, it’s worth a shot, but a majority of your Hornets wager should be on the standard under. One positive note for Charlotte is that they still have the best announcers in the league, so there is at least that to look forward to this season. 

Top Pick: Charlotte Hornets Under 26.5 Wins -105

Pick: Charlotte Hornets Worst Regular Season Record +1400

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