Concord native, Cox Mill grad Wendell Moore Jr. living the ‘dream’ with Charlotte Hornets
Understanding what it means to toss on the purple and teal, containing the euphoric enthusiasm turned out to be a small chore for Wendell Moore Jr.
Imagine awaiting your next destination, eagerly anticipating a call from an employer so you can continue a basketball career that’s spanned in several directions after beginning in suburban Concord. The phone rings.
And on the other line? The Charlotte Hornets.
“It was definitely surreal,” Moore said. “As a kid, we all dream of playing for our hometown team. Few get to do it, but when you do it, it’s definitely an exciting thing. Haven’t got to play a home game yet, but I’m looking forward to playing back at the crib. This team is fun. It’s an exciting team and a close group of guys. I’m excited to be here.”
Signed to a two-way contract during the All-Star break, the Cox Mill High School graduate and Duke product is thrilled to be back in the Carolinas. He’s been with the Hornets for a little more than a week, immersed in a whirlwind process that began on Feb. 13 when he got the news he was wanted.
Following an early-morning flight to Charlotte on Valentines’ Day and the completion of a pair of physicals, Moore barely had 48 hours to gather himself and his thoughts before reporting to the Hornets on Monday to join them on a nine-game road trip.
“Definitely a short turnaround, but it was exciting,” Moore said, “just to know that I was picked up by a team, especially a team that I consider home. It was definitely exciting.”
Which is why he’s still beaming ear to ear.
“Everybody here has welcomed me with open arms,” Moore said. “If I need to know something, I feel like I can really go to anybody and ask questions. So, it’s been great. It’s been a great transition so far.”
Moore is returning to the city where he won back-to-back 3A state championships at Cox Mill and became the fastest player to score 1,000 career points in Cabarrus County public schools. He made a name for himself in Charlotte-area basketball ranks prior heading to Duke, where he played for three years, earning All-ACC and Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year honors during his final season with the Blue Devils.
Originally selected by the Dallas Mavericks at No. 26 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft before being traded to Houston and then Minnesota, Moore spent his first two seasons with the Timberwolves and was traded to the Detroit Pistons last June. He appeared in 20 games in 2024-25 for the Pistons, posting 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
Detroit waived Moore on Feb. 5, and two weeks later he’s pinching himself. He’s inspired by his early impressions of the Hornets.
“Just a young energy over here,” said Moore, who netted eight points in Saturday night’s loss to Portland, tying his career high with four made field goals. “From coaches, trainers, players, it’s a great energy here. I think everybody feeds off that. It’s a very close knit group. I think you saw that after that win in L.A. It was so much energy in the room, it was contagious. Definitely a fun thing to be a part of.”
Charles Lee’s style is already growing on Moore, too. All it took was a week for Moore to be drawn in by the infectious personality of the Hornets’ coach.
“He just brings the energy out of everybody,” Moore said. “Guys like him, I just feel like you would run through a wall for him. And I don’t even know him that good yet. But I feel like he could do the same for me, so I want to do the same for him. Just getting to know him, like I said, he brings that young energy around.
“So, it’s always great for guys. I don’t think anyone wants to be coached by just an old stickler. We want to have a little fun on the court and he does that. It’s been great to be a part of so far. Whatever questions I ask him, he’s answered them. He said I can always come to him if I have any questions. So, he’s been very warm and welcoming.”
As he attempts to fit in, Moore intends on doing whatever he possibly can to be of assistance. He’s confident he can contribute to the Hornets’ young core led by LaMelo Ball. In a variety of aspects.
“Just my energy, my professionalism,” Moore said. “I, unfortunately, haven’t been on winning teams. But just my experience with things, I’m still young but I have a little bit of experience. The biggest thing for me is just being ready when my number is called. I feel I can help this team in many ways, whether it’s offensively or defensively, playmaking — just whatever it is. I just feel like I’m one of those guys who can do anything on the court.”
Still, it could take him a little time to find his comfort zone.
“I think the toughest thing is obviously the chemistry,” Moore said. “When it comes to offense and defense, I feel like, yeah, people run different stuff when it comes to team stuff. But I feel like everything is pretty universal. At the end of the day, it’s basketball. Everybody runs pretty much the same thing. I think the main thing for me is just getting on the floor with these guys, showing them I can play, showing them they can trust me and vice versa.”
And in the process, Moore’s hope is to help get the Hornets to a better place, similar to the franchise’s glory years in the 1990s. The 23-year-old wasn’t around then, but he can recall the Charlotte Bobcats teams from a decade ago and those memories will drive him.
“Charlotte is a great city,” Moore said. “I can remember growing up as a kid watching Kemba (Walker), Gerald Henderson, Gerald Wallace, Al Jefferson, just how much life they brought to this city when they were winning. That’s the thing we are trying to bring back. I feel like we are in a great spot to do so.
“Like I’ve said, we’ve got some young energy. We’ve got LaMelo, who everybody loves, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Mark (Williams). I mean, I can go on down the list. But yeah I feel like that’s a start. And what Coach Lee has been doing with this team this season has been amazing. I can tell the city still loves it. I’ve got some friends back home and they kind of talk to me about it all the time.
“The city is just waiting for another playoff run and that’s right around the corner. It’s very doable. I’m excited for what the future holds.”
