LaMelo Ball LIGHTS UP Minnesota | Hornets PLAYOFF Race | Rookie Showdown: KNUEPPEL vs FLAGG
The Charlotte Hornets are rolling at the right time, notching a dramatic four-game win streak and rekindling hopes for meaningful postseason basketball. LaMelo Ball continues to dazzle, displaying elite scoring, confidence, and skill in a stretch that saw the Hornets topple contenders and secure must-have victories. Listen as Walker Mehl and Doug Branson explore why LaMelo is the engine behind this playoff push, how Miles Bridges and a deep scoring lineup give Charlotte real playoff upside, and what clinching at least a play-in spot means for the franchise with just three games left.
But the drama isn’t limited to the standings. The Rookie of the Year conversation is raging, with Kon Knueppel’s season-long consistency and three-point shooting pitted against Cooper Flagg’s late-season heroics. The hosts discuss what voters value most, why Knueppel stands out by the numbers, and if the so-called “Illuminati” of NBA media could sway the decision in favor of a Dallas rookie. Plus, there’s reason for optimism throughout the organization: the Greensboro Swarm just captured the Eastern Conference in the G League, showing growth and winning ways up and down the Charlotte pipeline.
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25 Comments
If we can get 2 more wins we can clinch the playoffs automically. This team deserves that ❤
I'm with Walker on this one…
Thanks for the efforts guys!! PLEASE level up and REPRESENT the HORNETS CONSISTENTLY on Locked on NBA GAME NIGHT!!
Tell the world our story!! 🤩🤩
The Mavs coach said they had one goal left and that was to get Cooper Flagg the ROTY. So now he's getting 30 FGA per game
The NBA is "nasty business" Flagg was rookie of the year when he was drafted, If he had a season anywhere close to the other potential rookies of the year candidates. The difference between a winner go home, 2 chances and a automatic bid to the playoffs for the hornets Matter Doug. We all are watching these final 4 games for the contenders lol.
I’m so grateful! Grateful for everything hornets.
Let’s gooooohhh!
It's not just the Score Four. Coby has been huge off the bench as well. Our 2nd rotation is dangerous too.
The Mavs are stat padding for Flagg
The NBA wants cooper to win it
I'd rather these teams rest their stars against us. If we blow them out we get more rest plus less injury risk. Build a nice momentum and good vibes going to the play in/playoffs. We already know we have a good shot at taking them down.
If our playoff spot is locked going into our last game, we should let Kon take 30 shots to show what he would do on Cooper’s volume
Cooper is ROTY, large body of him performing with bad spacing and bad lineups through the whole season capped off with 5+ apex superstar level games
Magic won’t lose we really might fall to 10
Y'all's coping is hilarious
I see you guys when he drops another 40 in the coming games.
Cooper is a stat padder.
Kon earned. Dallas giving. That's the difference.
That Philly game meant SO MUCH!! 😫
Steph Curry has beaten lebron James more in their career… I feel like this inevitable "rivalry" is gonna come down to that. As long as we get the rings from it, Cooper can have the ROY if it means we win a few rings.
If Kon keeps putting up a stinker, it's not just ROTY, it's play in exit.
I'm betting on Kon being better because he reminds me of Luka Doncic. Doesn't matter if Cooper becomes Giannis.
Okay, well, that's not an easy question to answer.
Looking at the whole season, it’s Kon 100%. But in sports, you’re only as good as your last game. I criticized Cooper for staying on the court with only 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Magic blowing them out by 30 points, just to pad his stats in the race for ROY. Yesterday, he scored 40+ and won. Those are arguments you can’t ignore.
But the Mavs are only focused on the lottery and the ROY for Cooper.
Kon, on the other hand, is still playing for the 6th playoff spot, and his teammates can’t just feed him to help him win ROY. They want to win, and if he’s being defended so tightly and others are benefiting, why shouldn’t they take advantage of that?
Kon isn’t just a shooter, either. Last week, he almost had a triple-double. Kon is more. Kon is a record-breaking rookie who doesn’t just lead the rookie stats—he’s leading the entire NBA. That’s impressive.
So, since they like each other so much, I’d love to see a Co-ROY. Both deserve it. But if you look at the whole season and can only pick one, then it’s Kon. The impact on the team, the franchise, and the entire NBA is undeniable. Cooper will shine in the coming years, but this year belongs to Kon.
80% FT for Coop, 29% 3pt. He’s also averaging 4 extra minutes and 4 extra attempts as the feature. Kon is sharing the mic and being so efficient that he’s keeping up while sharing the mic with Miller, Ball, Bridges, and Coby🎤🫳
With Orlando beating the Pistons tonight I’m terrified of finishing 9th and having to win back to back play in games.
I would love that you do in the last week a show with Locked on Mavs and do a nice podcast about the ROY Race. Fans from both side will love it. And at the end we all know what is the Best and that is CO-ROY.. I mean we are talking and shifting odds 1 week before the end of the saison. Both players will love that and they love each other to. <3