The atmosphere in Charlotte feels different right now. Walking down the streets downtown you’re seeing more Hornets jerseys than ever before. You sit in a coffee shop and overhear the guys at the table next to you quietly talking about how excited they are for the CSL season to tip off. The Hornets have fielded competitive teams in the past, making the playoffs only a couple seasons ago. They’ve had all-star talents like Trae Young, Kris Dunn and Stanley Johnson Jr. But this, this is different.
The Hornets season began on the road in Detroit, but you could feel the buzz all the way in the Motor city. Nikola Jovic is here, and in his CSL debut, looked like everything Hornets fans have been dreaming up since they heard the Magic’s selection on draft night. Jovic looked comfortable, like he was a 10th year vet who’s already been there and done that. Except, he hasn’t, he’s only 18 and this was just game one of a sure to be lengthy and decorated career.
The Hornets took care of the Pistons in a 26-point rout, and Jovic’s stat line jumps off the paper. 19 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 blocks, on 8-17 shooting. There was some suspicion he’d be raw, and take some time to learn the CSL game, but that certainly didn’t look like the case. The clear alpha on this up-and-coming Hornets team, and he led them to a comfortable victory on night one.
“He’s the kind of talent you only see once in a generation,” Hornets head coach Dwyane Wade said after the game. “The game just comes so naturally to him. He understands the nuances of the game and sees things in a way that even most veteran players don’t. It’s amazing to watch, and I’m so excited to continue to coach him and watch him grow.”
“He makes the game so easy for all of us, always making the right pass, knowing when to attack and when to look for teammates. He fights hard for rebounds, works his tail off on defense, and never takes a play off. It’s amazing to see that from such a young guy,” Hornets forward Grant Williams said when talking to the media. “Even this one game just felt so different than last year after I got here, and I think it’s a lot to do with Nikola and the impact he’s making already.”
In addition to Jovic, the impact of Jaxson Hayes, the Hornets other big offseason acquisition, was felt immediately too. With three blocks of his own, Hayes and Jovic were able to protect the rim at a level the Hornets just couldn’t get to last season. A clear point of emphasis for the team this offseason, Hayes filled a clear need and plays his role perfectly next to the team’s two star players.
This may not be the season the Hornets see much success in the win-loss column. But this season isn’t about that. This season is about watching the development of talent this Hornets franchise has rarely, if ever, gotten the chance to see wearing their own colors. And knowing that there could be a decade-plus of this to come? Buzz City is, truly, buzzing.
