The Charlotte Hornets wrapped up their Summer League run Friday evening with a tight 92-90 loss to the Sacramento Kings, a tough end after missing the semifinals entirely. This team just could not defend their 2025 NBA Summer League title, dropping three straight games right after taking their opener against the Orlando Magic. Ouch.
Shooting Woes That Sting
Let’s be real, the numbers from that final game against Sacramento are a brutal gut punch. Charlotte’s shooting was a huge problem, hitting just 42% from the field. Even worse, they bricked a staggering 81% of their 3-point attempts, converting a meager 19% from deep. That’s just not going to cut it, not even in Summer League. Being down by just one point heading into the fourth quarter, you’d think they could pull off a comeback, but that shaky shooting held them back, and they fell short 92-90. You just can’t win when you’re shooting like that.
Lottery Picks Showing Out
But hey, there were bright spots, and we’ve gotta talk about them. Recent No. 14 overall pick Hannes Steinbach absolutely went off again. The dude was a beast, dropping 22 points on an incredible 7-for-10 shooting from the field. He added 11 rebounds and even snagged a steal. Seriously, this guy looks like the real deal and he’s showing why he was a lottery pick. He’s been consistently good. Tidjane Salaun and No. 18 overall pick Christian Anderson Jr. also showed some flashes, each scoring 18 points. Salaun pulled down eight rebounds, and Anderson Jr. dished out eight assists, showing he can make plays for others. It wasn’t enough for the win, but those individual performances? That’s what you want to see from your young talent.
Now, Charlotte will shift their focus to the preseason, before the 2026-27 season officially kicks off this October. They’ve got some serious shooting issues to figure out, but with Steinbach looking like a genuine talent, there’s still something to be excited about heading into the fall. Can they fix the team’s offensive woes before the real games start? We’ll see.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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