(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
For many years, the Sacramento Kings simply couldn’t get their act together, and they owned the NBA’s longest playoff drought, which dated back to 2006.
But the Kings are having a terrific season which has gotten them a playoff berth and the third-best record in the Western Conference, which means the Charlotte Hornets now own the league’s longest streak of missing the playoffs.
The longest active playoff drought now belongs to the Charlotte Hornets (7 seasons). pic.twitter.com/UvnkyfY8vO
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 30, 2023
They haven’t reached the postseason since 2016, and even worse, they haven’t won a playoff series since 2002.
With talented players such as LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Terry Rozier, Charlotte does have talent, but it hasn’t been able to put it together.
The team ranks 27th in scoring at just 111.5 points per game and is last in offensive rating, which has resulted in a 26-51 record, which is the second-worst in the Eastern Conference.
To be fair, injuries have played somewhat of a role, as Ball has played in just 36 games due to injury, but the team simply should be better.
Just last season, they finished 10th in the East and made the play-in tournament, losing to the Atlanta Hawks.
Some, including former NBA superstar Charles Barkley, have blamed majority owner Michael Jordan for being lackluster at his job and possibly lacking the dedication needed to turn the Hornets into a winner.
The good news for them is that in Ball, who is averaging 23.3 points, 8.4 assists, and 6.4 rebounds a game this season, they have a legitimate star they can build around — if he stays relatively healthy moving forward.
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