The Charlotte Hornets haven’t exactly been a team that turns heads this season - but Charles Barkley thinks that might be about to change.
After their recent win over the Washington Wizards, which bumped their record to 18-28, Barkley went on Inside the NBA and made a bold claim: the Hornets are going to make the play-in tournament.
Now, let’s be clear - they’ve got some work to do. Sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte is still 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for that 10th and final play-in spot.
But Barkley’s not just throwing darts here. There’s a little something brewing in Buzz City, and it’s worth a closer look.
The Hornets’ uphill battle - but not an impossible one
The Eastern Conference play-in race is crowded, but not impenetrable. The Hornets have shown flashes of cohesion lately, and that win over Washington was more than just another tally in the W column - it was a sign that this team might be finding its footing.
Charlotte hasn’t seen the postseason since 2016. That’s nearly a decade of sitting on the outside looking in.
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges - two of the team’s cornerstone talents - have never played a minute of playoff basketball. They got close in 2022 with a play-in appearance, but close doesn’t count in April.
This year, though, there’s a renewed sense of urgency. And maybe, just maybe, a little belief.
LaMelo and Bridges aren't looking to leave - and that matters
Trade rumors have been swirling around both Ball and Bridges as the 2026 deadline approaches. But here’s the key: both players have made it clear they want to stay in Charlotte. In a league where stars often look for the next big market or contender, that kind of commitment is rare - and valuable.
When your top players are bought in, it sets the tone. It gives the front office a reason to hold the line. And it gives the locker room a sense of continuity that’s often missing in rebuilding teams.
The numbers: not flashy, but quietly competitive
Let’s talk metrics. Charlotte ranks 18th in the league in points per game - not elite, but not bottom-tier.
They’re 16th in points allowed, which puts them right in the middle of the pack defensively. But here’s where it gets interesting: they’re ninth in offensive rating.
That tells us that when they get into a rhythm, this team can score efficiently.
Defensively, they’re still a work in progress - 21st in defensive rating is a concern. But they’re sitting at 15th in net rating, which essentially means they’re playing like a .500 team. And in the East this year, that kind of consistency might be enough to sneak into the play-in.
What’s next?
The Hornets still have ground to cover, and the margin for error is thin. But with their stars locked in, a recent boost in performance, and a belief - at least from one Hall of Famer - that they’ve got the tools to make a run, Charlotte suddenly looks like a team worth watching.
Whether they fulfill Barkley’s prophecy or not, the Hornets are playing with purpose. And for a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for far too long, that alone is a step in the right direction.