For many years, the Kings and Wolves have had the longest streak of non-playoff seasons. Minnesota broke its black streak in 2017, Sacramento took even longer since it was only this spring that the Californian franchise returned to the playoffs. These 16 seasons of drought have even become the NBA record.
But that’s ancient history now and the “relay” has been passed to the Hornets. The latter do not (yet) have one of the worst streaks of all time, but the seven consecutive seasons without a first round are nevertheless the worst in the league currently. The franchise hasn’t tasted a playoff game since 2016…
“It’s been four years for me,” announces Terry Rozier, accustomed to these matches with Boston, for the Charlotte Observer. “There are several players on this team who can talk about it and make others understand how important it is. We were supposed to come back to it this year, we felt like we could do it. »
As a majority of the workforce is young and has never played a playoff game, it seems difficult for the veterans to get the message across. How do you know the taste of something you’ve never eaten?
” It is sad “, testifies Gordon Hayward, who also had several seasons with playoffs before arriving in Charlotte. “I came for that, I am paid for that: to play big matches and to play in the playoffs. I think a lot of our players don’t understand that. In the playoffs, it’s different, the energy, the atmosphere. It’s pleasant. We play for that. »
Only twenty-seven wins
In addition to LaMelo Ball’s numerous injuries, the absence of Miles Bridges, convicted of domestic violence on his former partner, who did not play a single match in the 2022/2023 financial year, has weighed down the ambitions of the Hornets this season?
“I don’t know if we can really measure it,” replies Steve Clifford. “He was the best scorer and best rebounder on the team, so obviously that had an impact. Afterwards, it gave PJ Washington a chance to start and it was a good thing for him. It provided play time for others. »
The interior can be happy with this situation on an individual level, but on a collective level, the franchise has won only 27 matches, one of the worst totals in its history.
” It is the most important. Everybody wants to be in the playoffs.” recalls PJ Washington. “Everyone knows it’s the best moment of the season. As we failed to qualify, everyone is hungry to improve this summer and be better next season. »
To prevent food shortages from turning into famine over the seasons…
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Lamelo Ball | 36 | 35.2 | 41.1 | 37.6 | 83.6 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 23.3 |
| terry rozier | 63 | 35.3 | 41.5 | 32.7 | 80.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 21.1 |
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. | 48 | 32.2 | 43.1 | 31.9 | 76.0 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 20.3 |
| Pj Washington | 73 | 32.6 | 44.4 | 34.8 | 73.0 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 15.7 |
| Gordon Hayward | 50 | 31.5 | 47.5 | 32.5 | 81.1 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 14.7 |
| mason plumlee | 56 | 28.5 | 66.9 | 0.0 | 60.5 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 9.7 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 12.2 |
| Jalen Mcdaniels | 56 | 26.7 | 44.7 | 32.2 | 84.6 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 10.6 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 19 | 22.5 | 44.1 | 40.4 | 67.6 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 10.6 |
| mark williams | 43 | 19.3 | 63.7 | 0.0 | 69.1 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 7.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 9.0 |
| Dennis Smith | 54 | 25.7 | 41.2 | 21.6 | 73.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 8.8 |
| Nick Richards | 65 | 18.7 | 62.9 | 100.0 | 74.9 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 8.2 |
| Theo Maledon | 44 | 19.4 | 40.2 | 29.5 | 85.1 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 6.7 |
| james bouknight | 34 | 15.2 | 35.8 | 30.3 | 66.7 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
| Bryce McGowens | 46 | 17.1 | 39.6 | 32.5 | 75.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 5.3 |
| Cody Martin | 7 | 19.1 | 38.9 | 21.4 | 57.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 5.0 |
| Xavier Sneed | 4 | 12.1 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 4.3 |
| Jt Thor | 69 | 14.0 | 39.9 | 31.7 | 70.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 |
| Kai Jones | 46 | 11.9 | 55.8 | 21.1 | 73.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| Kobi Simmons | 5 | 5.6 | 16.7 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
