The Hornets’ season opener will come with a patched-up lineup, and three players are already ruled out for Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.
Kon Knueppel and Coby White are both sidelined with lower body injuries as Charlotte gets ready to tip off the year. Knueppel is dealing with a left hamstring strain that he suffered early in the preseason, while White is recovering from a left calf strain. Grant Williams is also out, nursing a right hamstring strain.
Neither Knueppel nor White was expected to be ready for opening night, and the Hornets are working to get both back for the rest of the season.
Knueppel’s rookie season turned heads. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from beyond the arc. He also finished as the all-time leader in three-pointers made by a rookie in a single season.
White made an impact after coming to Charlotte in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, and he was set to take on a bigger role with LaMelo Ball having been traded to the Minnesota to join Anthony Edwards. In 29 appearances with the Hornets last season, White averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while also shooting.
Charlotte is hoping to take a step forward this season and chase a playoff berth after moving on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges and bringing in Naz Reid, Dennis Schroder, Grayson Allen, and Royce O'Neale.
In Other News...
Nets Fans Will Be Watching One Thing In Mikel Brown Jr's Debut
The Nets are opening the 2026-27 season with a close eye on rookie point guard Mikel Brown Jr., whose debut is arriving with a built-in layer of caution. Brown has been working his way back from an ankle injury, and Brooklyn is expected to ease him into the rotation while he continues to rebuild his conditioning and settle into the pace of the NBA.
Jordi Fernndez has made it clear the plan is to take a measured approach with Browns early minutes, prioritizing health and long-term development over immediate load. For Nets fans, the biggest thing to track wont just be how Brown looks with the ball, but how quickly the team can let him grow into a larger role without rushing the process. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Are Still Waiting For Their Rookie Backcourt Look
The early months of the Nets season have already put a temporary pause on one of the rosters most intriguing ideas. Mikel Brown Jr. is beginning the year off the bench, and Egor Demin will open games next to veteran guard Keon Ellis, even though Brown and Demin flashed real chemistry together in Summer League and during open runs.
For now, Brooklyn is still waiting to see that rookie backcourt take shape in regular-season action. Browns role is being managed as he comes back from an ankle issue, which has limited his minutes, and the bigger picture remains the same: the Nets want those two young guards to grow into a pairing that can share the floor more naturally as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Demin Faces One Big Test In Nets Sophomore Year
Egor Demin has spent the offseason and preseason looking like a different version of himself, at least physically, and the early signs have been encouraging for Brooklyn. The Nets guard has added noticeable strength, and both he and coach Jordi Fernandez have pointed to a more confident approach when he gets downhill and tries to get into the paint.
The real examination comes now, once the games start counting and defenders are set to meet him at the rim every night. Brooklyn wants Demin to keep building on that aggression, but the next step is learning how to turn those drives into efficient offense against bigger, stronger resistance, which is where his early progress will either stick or get exposed. [Read more 🡒]