Hornets heading to summer league playoffs

The Charlotte Hornets have clinched the Summer League playoffs after going undefeated in four games.

The Hornets earned the No. 3 seed after defeating the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. They were undefeated in four regular Summer League games with a +12.8 point differential. The point differential was the difference for the Hornets getting ahead of three other 4-0 teams to advance to the playoffs.

Kon Knueppel, who was taken No. 4 overall by the Hornets in the 2025 NBA Draft, averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 28.2 minutes per game. Liam McNeeley, taken No. 29 overall, averaged 18 points and led the team with 8.5 rebounds per game.

KJ Simpson, the Hornets’ second-round pick in 2024, led Charlotte’s Summer League Team in points (19.3) and assists (5.5).

If this is a glimpse of the bench that will be backing up The Hive, things could be trending up in Charlotte.

“It was really cool. The whole team, the whole bench was talking,” McNeeley said. “I really love the culture of Charlotte.”

The Hornets will take on the No. 2 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, July 19 at 6 p.m. on ESPN.