To summarize the 2023-24 fantasy basketball season, let’s review and analyze the impact of the Charlotte Hornets players.
Charlotte Hornets 2023-24 Fantasy Basketball Season Review
LaMeloBall
Injuries have been the hallmark of LaMelo Ball’s career so far. He played 22 games in the 2023-24 season, a career low, as ankle problems sidelined him again. He has only played 55+ games once, during the 2021-22 season. He played his last game on January 26, and was officially suspended in March. In the short time managers were able to enjoy him, Ball was a top-notch playmaker, ranking in the NBA’s top 10 in assists. He also collected steals, with his average ranking fifth in the league. The 22-year-old particularly shone on offense, posting excellent numbers in points, three-pointers, and free throw percentage. As a 6-foot-4 point guard, he used his size and effort to make a solid contribution in rebounding as well. However, Ball struggled to convert shots efficiently, had minimal impact on blocks, and was prone to turnovers. The former All-Star lost the ball five or more times in six games (27% of games) and ranked fourth in the NBA in terms of turnovers.
- Stats: 23.9 PPG, 8.0 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.2 3PM, 3.8 TOV, 43/36/87, 22 GP
- Category rank: 22
- Points ranking: 22
Mile bridges
Miles Bridges returned to the court in November after missing last season and the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season due to a domestic violence case. He had a stellar season in 2021-22, but after sitting out the entire following year, managers weren’t sure what to expect. Bridges ended up getting off to a lightning start. Although his rank in the categories dropped 26 spots from the last season he played, he still made a significant fantasy impact. He also had an increased workload with Ball out for most of the year. One of the forward’s best categories was points, as the burden of scoring fell on him. He was also a strong three-point shooter, free throw shooter, and rebounder. He wasn’t a standout playmaker, but still provided a decent amount of assists. Bridges’ numbers on defense weren’t mind-blowing either, but they were enough to make some impact. His worst categories were turnovers and field goal percentage, a common punt combination.
- Stats: 21.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 7.3 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.3 3PM, 2.0 TOV, 46/35/83, 69 GP
- Category rank: 57
- Points ranking: 58
Mark Williams
Sophomore Mark Williams was on pace for a solid season before a back injury derailed his year. Managers are still haunted by the dubious reputation that clung to the center game after game. His last appearance was on Dec. 2, but he was never officially ruled out for the season. Also of note, he only appeared in 43 games in his first year as a pro. On the positive side, Williams has improved in every fantasy category since his rookie year except three-pointers, as he never attempted one. The 22-year-old contributed in other ways offensively, too, most notably in field goal percentage. His high efficiency made that his best category, but he also excelled in rebounds, blocks and few turnovers. He was a good point scorer, averaging nearly a double-double in points and rebounds. For a big man, Williams was also better than most at his position in steals, averaging nearly two stocks per game.
- Stats: 12.7 PPG, 1.2 APG, 9.7 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 0.0 3PM, 0.9 TOV, 65/-/72, 19 GP
- Category rank: 60
- Points ranking: 80
Brandon Miller
The Hornets decided to select Brandon Miller in the 2023 NBA Draft, a move that paid off. The rookie came off the bench to start the season but was quickly inserted into the starting lineup, where he made 68 appearances. Overall, he had a very promising season in his first year. Miller was most impactful for fantasy in the offensive categories: points, three-pointers and free throw percentage. The forward was known to have some slow scoring nights, but also experienced hot streaks. He wasn’t very efficient from the field and was prone to turnovers, but those issues are common among rookies. He wasn’t a great playmaker and was more reliable as a point scorer. On the other hand, the 21-year-old offered solid numbers in rebounds and shares. The injury streak allowed the Hornets to test Miller, who finished third in the race for Rookie of the Year.
- Stats: 17.3 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.3 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.5 3PM, 1.8 TOV, 44/37/83, 74 GP
- Category rank: 116
- Points ranking: 108
Nick Richards
Backup Nick Richards secured the Hornets’ starting center spot while Williams was out for most of the season. As a result, the big man set career highs in several categories. Most notable was his ultra-efficiency from the field, with his rate increasing by just over 6.2 points to nearly 70% from 2022-23. Aside from his shooting percentage, however, the 26-year-old provided little on offense. He averaged barely double-digit points, rarely got assists, didn’t contribute three-pointers, and wasn’t very effective at the free throw line. As a center, he was a great producer in the rebounds and blocks columns. He also didn’t lose the ball often. Still, thanks to his expanded role, Richards reached the best fantasy ranking of his career, 59 spots higher than his previous best.
- Stats: 9.7 PPG, 0.8 APG, 8.0 RPG, 0.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 0.0 3PM, 1.1 TOV, 69/0/74, 67 GP
- Category rank: 140
- Points ranking: 153
Tre Mann
Before being traded to the Hornets at the trade deadline, Tre Mann had virtually no fantasy relevance for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He went from a minor role in Oklahoma City to starting all 28 games he played in Charlotte. Many managers were quick to snatch the guard off the waivers list after he posted some near triple-doubles in his first few games with his new team. However, his production dropped off and he was inconsistent after a promising start. However, due to the Hornets’ injury spree, Mann had a heavy workload. The category he particularly excelled in was steals. In Charlotte, he was a solid contributor in the primary categories as well. His accuracy from the field and from the free throw line was effective and his turnovers were not too high. The 23-year-old wasn’t a great three-point shooter, but his worst stat was blocks.
- Stats: 9.3 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 1.1 3PM, 1.6 TOV, 46/37/76, 41 GP
- Category rank: 168
- Points ranking: 167
Other hornets
–Grant Williams: Category rank: 215/Points rank: 195
–Cody Martin: Category rank: 229/Points rank: 189
–Davis Bertans: Category rank: 281/Points rank: 329
–Marques Bolden: Category rank: 332/Points rank: 355
–Aleksej Pokusevski: Category rank: 336/Points rank: 325
–Seth Curry: Category rank: 356/Points rank: 367
–Vasilije Micic: Category rank: 358/Points rank: 271
–Bryce McGowens: Category rank: 401/Points rank: 374
–JT Thor: Category Rank: 414/Points Rank: 399
–Nick Smith Jr.: Category rank: 428/Points rank: 387
Category Rankings by Basketball Monster
Points ranking based on ESPN standard system
