What we learned in Hornets’ Las Vegas NBA Summer League opener
Nearly every section surrounding the Cox Pavilion court had someone from the Charlotte Hornets’ organization, sitting in the front row actively engaged.
This was the first opportunity to see 2026 NBA draftees Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach in action, signaling the start of an era minus previous mainstays LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. So the Hornets’ hierarchy had no visions of missing the players’ NBA Las Vegas Summer League debut, which is why co-owners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall were present along with Jeff Peterson, the Hornets’ president of basketball operations, and coach Charles Lee.
Throw in Brandon Miller, Tre Mann, Coby White, Moussa Diabate, recently acquired Royce O’Neale and assistant coach Kemba Walker, and the Hornets boasted a rather large contingent.
And they were treated to a show by a non-newcomer.
Liam McNeeley was a force in the Hornets’ 86-74 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, holding his own in a variety of ways. His mentality was evident from the jump, and it quickly became obvious that McNeeley had visions of being a turbo booster, igniting the Hornets when they needed an extra push.
“Yeah, my mindset coming into this is winning the championship, and then you’ve got to start by winning every game,” McNeeley said. “And that’s what this game needed of me. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to win the game. Whether it’s score a lot of points, get a lot of rebounds, dish the ball. Tonight it was my night.”
McNeeley tossed in 28 points to go with four assists and a pair of rebounds, but it goes beyond the numbers. His presence, demeanor and poise made him look more like a veteran than someone entering their second season.
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“Liam offensively, his pace and obviously his scoring just kind of kept us afloat there for a while,” Hornets summer league coach Blaine Mueller said. “He wasn’t bothered by the physicality, and he allowed those guys to kind of feel their way into the game.
“For him, (it was) just scoring at every level. He’s able to get to the rim, get to the free-throw line, get to the paint, finish there. He shot the ball from three really well. Just his pace in the pick-and-roll I thought was fantastic.”
McNeeley’s shine took some of the spotlight off Steinbach and Anderson, but the two had their moments. Especially Steinbach.
The rookie big man displayed the ability to play through contact, displaying strength on a few occasions when he got fouled in the act and still made the shot. Recording a double-double on the strength of 13 points and 11 rebounds, he also blocked two shots and made it clear he’s a good decision maker, tossing in a pair of assists.
Steinbach’s physicality was on full display when he missed a shot, but managed to poke the ball away from Orlando Magic big man Izaiyah Nelson for a steal a nanosecond later, and spun into the basket with a nifty left-handed layup. At 6-foot-10, 218 pounds, Nelson is no slouch, and Steinbach more than held his own.
“I think you see it most in the glass,” Mueller said. “Seven defensive rebounds, four offensive rebounds. He was a monster on both ends and there was even some more that he might not have grabbed but got his hands on and tipped to other people. And then he’s just so poised and so skilled.
“Whether it was an offensive rebound or some of those dump-offs, late passes where he was able to kind of navigate in tight spaces, and either put the ball down or just use footwork and finish with both hands through some contact.”
Steinbach was teamed with Ryan Kalkbrenner at times in the second, giving the Hornets a twin tower look. Kalkbrenner said he’s never had someone of that size alongside him on the court, and he’s as impressed with Steinbach’s game as anyone.
“He just has a good feel for the game, not just knowing everything that is going on,” Kalkbrenner said. “It didn’t take him long at all to catch up on the offensive playbook and defensive strategies and all that, because he’s a really smart player. And his feel for finishing and being skilled with the ball is great.
“So he’s going to transition seamlessly. I think he’s going to be a great player.”
One with a huge cheering section among the Hornets’ contingent, just like everyone else had, with Schnall, Plotkin, coaches and Charlotte’s players cheering them on in the desert as the team seeks to repeat as summer league champions.
“Just my whole time in the Hornets’ organization, it’s been such a family atmosphere,” McNeeley said. “We say ‘Hive’ after every breakout. We are ‘hive.’ We are family. I know, I love those guys. I know those guys love me, and they want to see the best for me.”
