About this episode
The Charlotte Hornets are heading into the All-Star break on a wave of momentum that has fundamentally shifted the outlook of the entire franchise. At the center of this resurgence is Kon Knueppel, whose historic rookie campaign has earned him three consecutive Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors. As the team travels to Los Angeles for All-Star festivities, Knueppel finds himself as the face of the organization, participating in the Rising Stars Challenge, the Skills Challenge, and the Three-Point Contest. With Cooper Flagg sidelined by a mid-foot sprain, the narrative surrounding the Rookie of the Year race is shifting, and a dominant showing this weekend could firmly place Knueppel at the front of the conversation.Beyond the individual accolades, the collective success of this roster has the Queen City dreaming big. Charlotte has officially vaulted into the ninth seed, currently sitting just a few games back of the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. The possibility of the first division championship in franchise history is no longer just a "sicko" fantasy; it is a mathematical reality if this level of play continues. We examine the defensive identity established by Charles Lee and the massive contributions from the core rotation that have allowed the team to hold opponents under 100 points with staggering regularity. From the "Killer Bees" starting lineup to the surprising depth provided by the frontcourt, this squad is playing with a level of joy and competitiveness that has the rest of the NBA finally taking notice.Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… ? https://linktr.ee/lockedonhornetsBecome an official member of the Locked On Hornets Sicko Brigade and get Hornets news, rumors and pictures of Byron Mullens sent directly to your phone via Subtext (14 Day Free Trial): https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonhornetsLocked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More ? https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBAGet Doug's gamenotes, special articles and a podcast on Hornets history at the Every Hornets Boxscore substack: everyhornetsboxscore.comGet more Walker on Wes and Walker 12-3pm on WFNZ 92.7 FM? Follow Locked On Hornets on TwitterLocked On Hornets https://twitter.com/LockedOnHornetsWalker Mehl https://twitter.com/WalkerMehlDoug Branson https://twitter.com/DougBransonLOHEverydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Turbo TaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate
