The spoils of winning: Surging Hornets have a bandwagon

NBAE

Coby White scored 20 points on 5-of-13 shooting in his Spectrum Center debut as a Charlotte Hornet in their 109-93 win against Portland on Feb. 28. The Hornets opened the week a half-game behind Atlanta for ninth in the NBA Eastern Conference.

Spectrum Center has a different vibe these days.

As the Hornets climb up the NBA standings, there’s a modest bandwagon taking on interest. The result is an energy that hasn’t been as definitive since they advanced to consecutive play-in rounds in 2021-22. Charlotte, which at 30-31 and a half-game behind Atlanta for ninth in the Eastern Conference, is suddenly a winner at the box office. Forward Miles Bridges, who along with LaMelo Ball are the only Hornets left from that era, appreciates the fervor.

“It felt great; the crowd is gradually getting louder and louder,” he said after the Hornets’ 109-93 win against Portland. “Every win, the closer we get to the postseason, fans have been showing up for us and we’re feeling the love. It’s great to be back for me.”

Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who is new to a Spectrum Center crowd at full throat for the home team, is also soaking up the adulation.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “I love that you asked me that question, too, because I’ve actually been wanting to give a shoutout to the crowd but the last time we were here we lost the Cleveland game and the Houston game. Even in the beginning of the [Portland] game, you can feel it in the intros; they announce our starters, the crowd starts to get buzzing a little bit, the energy is increasing. I’m really proud of our guys for how they’re making this a product that’s easy to cheer for and root for, and also just making the fans proud to rally behind this group.”

The Hornets are doing their part. Winner of four in a row and 13 of 17 going into their March 3 game against Dallas, Charlotte is a good place to be for Coby White, who scored 20 points on 5-of-13 shooting in his Hornets home debut against Portland. 

“Think I had fun, so that’s the most important part – just having fun playing this game,” he said. “But it was a good crowd … great fans. Obviously, Portland is a scrappy team, a really good team, so that was a good win. You can never take those for granted in this league. But I had a good time. It was fun.”

If Charlotte can maintain its pace, making the top six – and automatically move into the best-of-seven series portion of the postseason – isn’t out of realm of possibility. Philadelphia is sixth (33-26), four games ahead in the win column. The Hornets, who are 13-16 at home compared to 17-15 on the road, have an opportunity to draw on the home crowd’s zeal as the playoff stretch moves toward its climax. 

“We appreciate it, and … we can feel it,” Lee said. “The energy at home has really given us a boost.”

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