Charlotte Hornets Conduct Rookie Workouts at Queens University

The Hornets' four rookies took part in workouts on Thursday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets are enjoying a fantastic offseason thus far thanks to the work of Jeff Peterson and the front office. The organization drafted four new players in last week’s draft, and have made several roster additions via free agency as well.

On Thursday, all four new draftees took part in rookie workouts at the Levine Center at Queens University in Charlotte. This was the final group activity for the team before those who are participating depart for Summer League in Las Vegas.

After workouts concluded, Summer League head coach and Hornets assistant Chris Jent spoke with the media, along with Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley and Sion James.

“It’s nice to have [the rookies] here and just assess where they are,” Jent said. “Because it’s the first time you get them in the building, see how they are health-wise and where you can go forward. But we’re all very excited. We love the personalities and the players we’re going to have in the gym.”

One thing the newest Hornets rookies can be excited about is seeing their Charlotte teammates that aren’t participating in Summer League coming out to support them in Vegas. Jent confirmed that members of the full-time roster would be in attendance.

“Oh yeah, we’ll have the crew out there,” said Jent. “Like I said, we’ve been in the gym. Everyone’s been working. It’s been a full season, as we got done, depending on what people had to do, early May, our whole team was around. So that’s just something we’re about, something coach Lee preaches, and the guys love it.”

This is the kind of team culture that’s been growing in Charlotte ever since Charles Lee took over. ‘Hornets DNA’ is a real thing, and part of what’s defined this team over the last year has been the growing brotherhood among the players on the roster.

That was evident when all four rookies officially signed their standard NBA contracts on Thursday as well. As they were signing, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller and other prominent members of the roster were in attendance, celebrating their new teammates for their achievement.

Of course, this comes after those same tenured members of the Hornets’ roster also attended the pre-draft workouts of the guys who would soon become their allies on the court. Charlotte’s new draftees have understood from day one that there’s something different about this franchise in 2025.

“I mean, of course especially this organization, from the top to the bottom it’s all team-oriented, family oriented, I’m blessed to be part of this great organization. Super happy about it.” McNeeley said.

When asked about his teammates, Knueppel explained that the rookies have only just begun to get to know the older guys, but expressed that the relationships are already growing.

“They came in and we talked briefly in the training room, it was just more so like, getting to know you a little bit,” Knueppel said. “And then they came up and watched us sign the contracts, so that was pretty cool to have their support. But I’m looking forward to talking to them more and more.”

Sion James expressed a similar sentiment. “These are the guys that, the second you hear your name called for the Hornets, the guys that you think about,” James said. “It’s exciting to be their teammate now, it’s exciting to see the energy they bring, the talent they have and how hard they work on the floor.”

As far as the big takeaways the rookies have gotten from their initial practices as professional players, the level of competition from their teammates seemed to be routinely brought up. “Very, very high,” James said, when I asked about the level of competitiveness of the group overall. “Whole bunch of guys who know what they're doing, know how to play basketball, and want to win with each other."

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All photos and video courtesy of @hornets

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