Charlotte Hornets

Lunchpail mentality spurring Hornets’ Bryce McGowens in rookie season

Charlotte Hornets guard Bryce McGowens poses for a portrait during media day at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.
Charlotte Hornets guard Bryce McGowens poses for a portrait during media day at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. alslitz@charlotteobserver.com

Bryce McGowens is living the dream. There are times he still can’t believe it.

The Charlotte Hornets rookie guard is playing for the NBA franchise he grew up watching and learning on the job. He’s received some key minutes recently due to the Hornets’ rash of injuries and took advantage, showing he wants to be the next in line to leave his imprint on the league the way a few fellow South Carolina products – like Memphis’ Ja Morant and Duke product Zion Williamson with New Orleans – are currently doing.

In the latest episode of The QC Hornets’ Nest, McGowens stopped by to discuss his Carolina roots and how special it is to have family close by, what he’s learned most during the past six months since getting drafted, how playing with the Greensboro Swarm benefited him, what he enjoys most about being a pro at age 20 and more.

The weekly podcast can also be found on Apple and Spotify.

Roderick Boone
The Charlotte Observer
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
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