The Charlotte Hornets’ stat leaders could look a lot different in 2026-27, and the biggest reason is simple: the roster has changed. With new faces in the mix and a couple of key names no longer around, the familiar end-of-season leaderboard may have a very different feel.
Brandon Miller looks like the safest bet to top the scoring chart. He already led the Hornets in points per game in 2025-26, and with LaMelo Ball gone, even more of the offense should funnel his way. Miller is headed into his fourth season, and if he stays healthy, there’s a real path to him pushing past 23 points per game - enough to lead the team comfortably.
Assists are a little trickier, but Dennis Schröder gets the nod here if he ends up handling most of the backup point guard minutes. Coby White is the main competition as the starting point guard, but Schröder has averaged 4.9 assists per 36 minutes in his career, while White sits at 4.7. White brings more scoring punch at this stage, which is why Schröder feels like the cleaner bet to finish first in assists, even if the number itself isn’t especially high.
Rebounding should be a crowded race, with Moussa Diabaté, Hannes Steinbach, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Naz Reid, and Grant Williams all in the mix. That depth is exactly why Charles Lee is expected to spread the minutes around. Even so, Steinbach’s rebounding should translate well whether he starts or not, and about 10 boards a night could be enough to put him in the lead while a few others hover near that mark.
Sion James is the surprise pick for steals. He won’t be asked to run much offense when he’s on the floor, which lets him lean into his best trait: defense.
He’s described as the best perimeter defender on the team, and with minutes in hand, he should be good for close to two steals per game. That’s usually a stat you’d expect from the starting point guard, but James gets the edge because of what he does on the defensive end.
Blocks, though, belong to Ryan Kalkbrenner. He led the Hornets with 1.5 blocks in 21.4 minutes per game, and that edge should hold even if his workload changes. He’s the team’s top shot-blocker and its tallest player, and the rest of the frontcourt doesn’t profile as a major source of rim protection.
There’s also a case for Grayson Allen to outpace Kon Knueppel in three-point shooting. Without LaMelo Ball, Allen should see more usage, though it may come with some efficiency tradeoff.
Still, a bounce-back year from deep makes sense, especially with so many shooters around him. The volume may not be huge, but 44% from three is a reasonable expectation.
In Other News...
Hornets Face Another Tough Roster Call With Future Assets At Stake
Charlotte has already been busy trimming the edges of its roster, moving on from two of its three main expiring contracts as it continues to lean into asset collection and long-term flexibility. Josh Green and Miles Bridges are gone, and that leaves Grant Williams as the most obvious veteran contract still sitting in the mix, which makes him a natural name to circle as the Hornets keep shaping the roster around younger players and future development.
Williams season last year gives the front office a real decision to make, because he still has enough value to matter in a deal even as Charlotte works through salary-cap and construction questions. The Hornets have already shown they are willing to make tough calls with their expiring deals, and this one is tied to the same bigger question they have been asking all along: whether it is better to keep a useful veteran in place or turn him into another piece for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Naz Reid Could Be Charlottes Most Important Roster Bet
Naz Reids arrival gives Charlotte a very different kind of roster discussion, one centered less on star power and more on fit, durability and how the pieces can line up around a young core. The Hornets have added draft capital and a player who has already shown he can matter in a winning structure, which gives the front office some flexibility as it tries to build around its rookies and interior options.
Reid has spent much of his career coming off the bench, but his value has always gone beyond that label because of how much he can do at the five and how adaptable his game has become. For Charlotte, the real question is how that translates when he is asked to carry a much larger load in the frontcourt and whether he can anchor the position the way the team needs over the next season and beyond. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Rebuild Around Brandon Miller Raises One Huge Question
The Hornets have spent the offseason making it clear the franchise is moving in a new direction, one centered on Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel as the organization looks ahead to the 2026-27 season. It is a reset built on youth and patience, with the front office still expected to keep turning over the roster as it tries to construct a group that fits the long-term plan.
Miller has already helped set the tone for what comes next, keeping expectations grounded while the rebuild takes shape. Charlotte is not trying to pretend this is an overnight fix, and the bigger question now is how quickly the team can turn that new core into a group that is competitive night after night rather than simply one still learning how to win together. [Read more 🡒]