Charlotte Hornets legends' perspective: Key to ending playoff drought lies in maintaining team health, according to Baron Davis.
In a nutshell, the inept Charlotte Hornets haven't triumphed in a playoff series since the days of their swaggering star, Baron Davis. The ex-two-time All-Star guard graced the Hornets' court from '99 to '05, and he was their prime attraction after they drafted him at number three in the '99 NBA Draft. Davis led the team to the playoffs every single season he was there, ushering in their last playoff series win back in 2002.
Fast-forward 23 years, and the Hornets haven't bagged a playoff series victory since. They now hold the longest current NBA playoff series win drought and also the longest postseason appearance drought, having last graced the stage during the 2015-16 season.
The Hornets boast some promising young stars, such as former All-Star, LaMelo Ball, who averaged a striking 25.2 points per game in the 2024-25 season. However, Ball showed up for only 47 games and was sidelined for the rest after undergoing two procedures on his ankle and wrist in March.
Ball's injury-prone past, along with the injuries affecting other key players like Brandon Miller and Tre Mann, have significantly contributed to the Hornets' enduring playoff drought. The team's dismal record for the 2023-24 season was 19-63, the third-worst in the NBA.
In a candid interview, Davis shed light on the key requirements for the Hornets to set things right: "For one, they've got to be healthy when you're a young team like that. It's essential that your chemistry's on. Look at Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann, all these guys have been hurt over the past year and a half, two seasons. It's really derailed their growth as the next young team that could potentially be terrifying. The next Detroit or Houston in terms of talent."
During the last three seasons, the Hornets have consistently displayed mediocre performance: 21-61 record for the '23-24 season, 27-55 for the '22-23 season, and the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference the previous three seasons. But compare that to their respectable 43-39 record in the '21-22 campaign, when Ball was healthy, and the contrast becomes startlingly clear.
"We can't really start the process of seeing what you have, where you want to go, setting different goals, until you actually have a full squad," says the insightful Davis, pointing out the importance of maintaining a consistent roster for the team's growth.
So, how should the Hornets tackle the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft? According to the savvy Davis, they should keep their options open: "If I was the GM, I'd be exploring all options. I'd be trying to complement LaMelo Ball with a veteran star or superstar, someone who can anchor these young guys. With the fourth pick, there'll be some fantastic talent. But I think the Hornets are in a good position, because they've got a lot of really good young talent and really good young talent that has potential. This could be an incredible offseason for them where they can align themselves and put the right team together."
Curiously, the formerly fearsome Davis has carved out an impressive space for himself in the business world. The 46-year-old is making waves with "Business Inside The Game," where he facilitates a membership community for both athletes and entrepreneurs.
Next week, Davis will grace the stage at the Social Innovation Summit in San Francisco, where he'll be discussing strategies for building social impact through entrepreneurship. And Davis goes the extra mile, constantly looking for opportunities to help budding entrepreneurs: "In sports and entertainment, things are changing. There'll be new opportunities and new verticals. When you look at the student athlete, the NIL athlete, professional athletes have more opportunities now to treat themselves as entrepreneurs based on the skills they want to develop and the connections they want to make."
Davis' golden advice to young athletes? "Invest in yourself. Invest in your education, invest in your skill sets. The same way you would invest in your playing career, some of the things that you want to as an entrepreneur, whatever that industry is, invest your knowledge in that industry."
Baron Davis, with his background in entrepreneurship, will share insights on building social impact through entrepreneurship at the upcoming Social Innovation Summit in San Francisco. Recognizing the shift in sports and entertainment, Davis emphasizes the new opportunities and verticals for student athletes and NIL athletes to treat themselves as entrepreneurs.
By investing in their education and skill sets, young athletes can prepare themselves like they would for their playing careers, Davis advises. This approach mirrors the health-and-wellness mindset seen in the science of basketball and the NBA.
In the face of the Charlotte Hornets' enduring playoff drought, Davis encourages the team to maintain a consistent roster, ensuring chemistry, health-and-wellness, and a focus on its promising young stars like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Tre Mann. With its young talent and the number 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Hornets have a valuable opportunity to strategically build a competitive team that showcases the same entrepreneurial spirit Baron Davis embodies off the court.
