Coby White is optimistic about the Charlotte Hornets despite an offseason that saw the franchise trade away LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
Charlotte brought back several pieces in those moves, including Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, and White believes the new-look roster has plenty of potential.
“I think we’ve got a really, really good team,” White said. “We’ve got a lot of really, really good players. I think we got a lot of unselfish players, so that’ll make it easy in terms of coming together.
“A lot of us are already here now in Charlotte working out, so that’s a major step in – what is it, August?”
White, who re-signed with Charlotte on a three-year, $74 million deal this summer, sees the players’ early arrival as evidence of their commitment.
“You don’t see that a lot in the NBA, so that already shows individually how bought in each player is. So for us, it’s just about doing it together, doing it as a collective, getting better each and every day on the court, off the court.
“Because I think we all value getting to that brotherhood off the court as well. It’s just as important as doing stuff on the court.”
The Hornets have missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, but White believes they have an opportunity to change expectations in 2026-27.
“We’ve got a chance to be a really good team and surprise a lot of people, but we’ve got to put the work in,” White said. “And what comes with the work is doing what we’re doing now.”
Several Hornets players are already spending time together in Charlotte before training camp.
“Being here is important,” White said. “It’s important right now, especially when you’ve got not a totally different team, but you got some new individuals joining the team. Grayson Allen’s here as well. The rookies are here.
“Dorian Finney-Smith is here. You don’t normally see that during the summer. So, I think it’s important for us to just gain some traction going into the training camp. It’s going to be dope.
“A lot of guys being here this early, not just being here, but you start stuff early – the locker room talks, the meal room talks. And all that stuff is important. So, yeah, exciting times for sure.”
Hornets’ Coby White Ready To ‘Surprise People’ In 2026/27 https://t.co/Gn6XPYd9uI
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) August 8, 2026
