The Hornets are still piecing things together as they navigate a season filled with both promise and growing pains. On the injury front, rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner missed his second straight game with a sprained left elbow.
His status for Friday’s matchup in Orlando remains up in the air, as the team’s medical staff continues to evaluate the next steps. Head coach Charles Lee didn’t offer much clarity, noting that the plan is still being developed.
“We’re still just trying to figure out what the plan is going to be,” Lee said, keeping things close to the vest as the Hornets manage yet another rotation wrinkle.
Meanwhile, veteran forward Grant Williams is continuing his long road back from the ACL tear that ended his previous season prematurely. While he hasn’t put a timeline on his return, Williams is staying active and visible around the organization. This week, he spent time handing out Christmas gifts to Hornets staff-a small gesture that speaks volumes about his leadership and connection to the team, even while sidelined.
“It’s all about making sure that I come back to build this team up to compete and win,” Williams said. “I feel great right now, but at the same time, we have a plan.
Whenever that date comes around, I feel like I’ll be at my best self and be able to give 110 percent to this roster. We’re trying to turn this thing around the right way, and I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else.”
That kind of mindset is exactly what a young, developing team like the Hornets needs-especially as they continue to battle through inconsistency and injury setbacks. Williams may not be on the court yet, but his presence is still felt in the locker room and around the facility.
And while injuries have been a theme, so has individual growth-and no one’s making more noise right now than Kon Knueppel. The rookie sharpshooter made NBA history on Monday, becoming the fastest player ever to reach 100 made three-pointers. It took him just 29 games to hit the century mark, smashing the previous record of 41 games held by Lauri Markkanen.
Knueppel’s shooting has been a bright spot for a team that’s still trying to find its rhythm. In a season where the Hornets have had to shuffle lineups and lean on youth, his emergence as a legitimate perimeter threat is a major win. He’s not just hitting shots-he’s doing it at a historic pace, and that kind of production changes how defenses have to approach Charlotte’s offense.
For a franchise still trying to establish its identity, moments like these matter. Whether it’s a veteran like Williams laying the cultural foundation or a rookie like Knueppel rewriting the record books, the Hornets are showing signs of a team that’s slowly but surely building toward something bigger.