Charlotte Hornets players and staff are locking in on community engagement this offseason, and it’s all part of a major cultural shift that head coach Charles Lee is pushing hard for heading into the 2026-27 season. Lee wants his guys engaging with fans and organizations across Charlotte, and it looks like it’s already paying off big time.
Pickleball, Teammates, and “Showing Up for the Guys”
Recently, Brandon Miller gathered a bunch of the Hornets crew for his Celebrity Pickleball Classic, hosted by the Team Miller Foundation. This wasn’t just Miller out there; coach Lee, Kon Knueppel, Coby White, Liam McNeeley, and even former 10-year point guard Muggsy Bogues were all in on the action. Miller isn’t just hosting events; he’s living the team-first mentality. He caught up with the Charlotte Observer, laying out exactly why this stuff matters: “Being there for our teammates, showing up for events like this. I went to Grant’s golf tournament this year, been to Grant’s camp this year, plan on going to Coby White’s camp. It’s just showing up for the guys. That’s all we can ask for. We see them every day throughout the season, but showing up for stuff and their needs is kind of important to them as a player.”
New Culture and the Road Ahead
Look, the Hornets have been in a playoff drought since the 2015-16 season, and that’s rough, but Charles Lee’s arrival in 2024 sparked a culture change, and it’s still building. The unity they’ve been forging at events like Miller’s Classic is more than just fun and games. The hope is this chemistry will translate directly to the grind of a long 82-game regular season this fall.
This isn’t just about good PR, it’s about building a foundation for something real. When those games tip off this fall, Charlotte will be watching to see if this off-court unity can finally break that drought.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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