A first for these firsts: Why 2026 NBA Draft is different for Charlotte Hornets
It’s that time of year again, Charlotte Hornets fans.
Known to stir up a twinge of anxiety due to the organization’s track record selecting talent in the first round of the NBA Draft, the annual rite of summer has arrived. But there’s something slightly different about how things are scheduled to unfold for the Hornets on Tuesday in New York.
Barring some last-minute wheeling and dealing, the Hornets hold the 14th and 18th overall selections. Here’s the kicker: Charlotte has never drafted from either position, making this a first of sorts for the franchise.
Along with its own pick, the Hornets boast another opening-round selection thanks to acquiring it as well as Jusuf Nurkic on Feb. 6, 2025, in exchange for Cody Martin, Vasa Micic and a second-round pick. As a result of stipulations with pick protections, the Hornets received the least-favorable 2026 first-round selections of Washington, Memphis, Phoenix and Orlando.
So technically, the 18th pick belongs to the Hornets via Orlando.
Either way, the spotlight turns to the Hornets in the middle of the opening round, creating several possibilities for Jeff Peterson, Charlotte’s president of basketball operations. It marks Peterson’s third draft at the helm.
During his initial draft with the Hornets two years ago, Peterson plucked Tidjane Salaün off the board at No. 6 and the jury is still deliberating regarding the Frenchman’s long-term prospects in the NBA.
Taking Kon Knueppel fourth last June looks like a brilliant move, given how Knueppel turned heads all season long and finished second behind good buddy and fellow Duke product Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA’s rookie of the year voting.
Peterson also traded back into the first round to select Liam McNeeley at No. 29. McNeeley, who spent time between Charlotte and Greensboro in the G League with the Swarm, was named as one of the steals of the draft based on where he was picked in the NBA.com annual GM survey last fall.
Coincidentally, this will also mark the third occasion in the last four years where the Hornets are on track to make multiple picks in the first round. Save for 2024, it’s been quite the norm.
Which makes it imperative they get these selections right, especially considering the list of previous first-round draftees is filled with more misses than hits.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS: FIRST-ROUND PICKS
2025: Kon Knueppel (No. 4 overall); Liam McNeeley (29)
2024: Tidjane Salaün (6)
2023: Brandon Miller (2); Nick Smith Jr. (27)
2022: Jalen Duren (13), Mark Williams (15)
2021: James Bouknight (11)
2020: LaMelo Ball (3)
2019: PJ Washington (12)
2018: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12)
2017: Malik Monk (11)
2016: Malachi Richardson (22)
2015: Frank Kaminsky (9)
2014: Noah Vonleh (9); Shabazz Napier (24)
2013: Cody Zeller (4)
2012: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2)
2011: Kemba Walker (9); Tobias Harris (19) 2009: Gerald Henderson (12)
2008: D.J. Augustin (9); Alexis Ajinca (20)
2007: Brandan Wright (8); Jared Dudley (22)
2006: Adam Morrison (3)
2005: Raymond Felton (5); Sean May (13)
2004: Emeka Okafor (2)
2001: Kirk Haston (16)
2000: Jamaal Magloire (19)
1999: Baron Davis (3)
1998: Ricky Davis (21)
1996: Kobe Bryant (13); Tony Delk (16)
1995: George Zidek (22)
1993: Greg Graham (17); Scott Burrell (20)
1992: Alonzo Mourning (2)
1991: Larry Johnson (1)
1990: Kendall Gill (5)
1989: J.R. Reid (5) 1988: Rex Chapman (8)
