LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, and the birth of Charlotte’s offensive future

For years, optimism around the Charlotte Hornets has felt fragile – brief flashes of promise followed by long stretches of uncertainty. Injuries stalled momentum, development timelines drifted, and hope was something fans talked themselves into rather than something they could see nightly on the floor.

But that’s changing right now.

What’s happening in Charlotte this season feels different, not because the Hornets are suddenly title contenders, but because they finally look like a team building toward something real and with growth. At the center of it is an offensive trio that has quietly become one of the most dangerous three-man shooting combinations in the NBA: LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and rookie Kon Knueppel. Together, they are redefining the Hornets’ identity.

A trio that fits

Ball and Miller were always going to be the franchise’s cornerstones. Ball, the flamboyant engine, sees passing angles others don’t even attempt and remains as a legitimate offensive threat with a little razzle dazzle. Miller, the scorer with size and polish, has steadily evolved into a true three-level threat. The missing piece was someone who could complement their gravity without needing the ball to dominate possessions.

Enter Kon Knueppel – and not in the limited way many expected.

Knueppel arrived with the label of a shooter, a floor spacer who would benefit from Ball’s playmaking and Miller’s shot creation. Instead, he’s blown past expectations, putting together one of the most efficient rookie seasons the league has seen. He’s not just knocking down open threes – he’s attacking closeouts, finishing through contact, and punishing mismatches in the midrange.

Rather than shrinking next to two high-usage stars, Knueppel has expanded Charlotte’s offensive ceiling.

That’s what makes this trio special: their games amplify each other. Ball’s creativity bends defenses, Miller’s scoring versatility forces help from every level, and Knueppel punishes hesitation. There’s no redundancy between the three, only synergy.

Brandon Miller’s leap is here, and LaMelo Ball is his most impactful

Miller’s recent stretch has been the clearest signal yet that Charlotte has a legitimate star growing in real time.

Over his last nine games, Miller is averaging 24.6 points on an absurd 70.1 true shooting percentage, along with 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. More importantly, he’s done it consistently – nine straight 20-plus-point performances, finally healthy and attacking defenses from everywhere on the floor.

This isn’t empty scoring, instead Miller has become decisive. When defenders press up, he drives. When they sag, he shoots. When help arrives early, he makes the simple read. His shot diet is cleaner, his pace more controlled, and his confidence unmistakable.

For a franchise that has long searched for a wing it could build around, Miller is delivering all the goods for the Hornets.

Ball has always been box-office. The flair, the audacity, the no-look passes – they’ve been part of his identity since day one. But this season, particularly during Charlotte’s recent surge, Ball has arguably been playing the most impactful basketball of his career.

He recently became just the fifth player in NBA history to record 5,000 points, 1,500 rebounds, and 2,000 assists in his first 300 career games, joining Magic Johnson, Walt Frazier, Oscar Robertson, and Luka Doncic. That company alone tells the story.

What separates this version of Ball is control. He’s picking his spots better. He’s balancing aggression with orchestration. And with Miller and Knueppel spacing the floor, Ball doesn’t have to force brilliance – it comes naturally.

Defenses can’t load up on him anymore, and every rotation comes with consequences.

The pieces are starting to align, and the results are following

There’s tangible proof that this isn’t theoretical optimism.

The Hornets are 11-1 when their starting lineup of Ball, Knueppel, Miller, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabate takes the floor together. That group has developed chemistry quickly, playing with clarity and purpose on both ends.

Charlotte has won six straight games and is 7-1 over its last eight, arguably its best stretch of basketball all season. Since December 1, the Hornets rank:

• 2nd in offensive rating
• 4th in true shooting percentage
• 3rd in offensive rebound percentage

Those numbers reflect a team that understands its strengths and is leaning into them, and a large part of this growth comes from the bench.

Head coach Charles Lee has quickly earned respect as a teacher, a motivator, and a developer of young talent. Charlotte’s offense is structured but free – players know where their advantages are and are encouraged to exploit them. Mistakes don’t result in paralysis, and growth is part of the plan.

That culture matters for a young team – and so does patience.

With a front office led by Jeff Peterson, Charlotte has committed to clarity in its roster building. They know what they’re looking for in the draft. They’ve accumulated picks. And rather than rushing timelines, they’re allowing their core to grow together – which might be the most encouraging sign of all.

The Charlotte Hornets’ future moving forward

This version of the Hornets is fun in each and every aspect of the game. They play with joy and build off of emotion, celebrate each other’s success, and they compete with belief.

Ball, Miller, and Knueppel are the Hornets’ hot shooting trio that are a glimpse into what Charlotte can become if development continues on this path. There will still be bumps, as young teams always face them. But for the first time in a long time, the direction is clear for these Hornets.