It’s no secret that the NBA was built on the back of some of the most storied rivalries in all of American sports. From Magic Johnson’s Lakers and Larry Bird’s Celtics to LeBron James and the super team in Golden State, the NBA has a long history of legendary rivalries. However, the next great rivalry in the league is beginning to take form between the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets. While it may not matter in the upcoming season, the Eastern Conference foes may be lined up for one of the most storied rivalries since the turn of the century.
The Next Potential NBA Rivalry Features Two Unlikely Franchises
Washington and Charlotte may have finished at the very bottom of the conference this past season; however, both teams are on steady rebuild paths. While the Wizards may be further along, the Hornets aren’t trailing by much, which sets up a rivalry that could span a little longer than just a few seasons.
Beginning Stages
This summer, fans from all corners of the internet have debated and practically initiated the rivalry talks. Topics have been mixed, with opinions all over the board. From which young core is better to history is what tells the tale; everyone has their thoughts.
What many fail to realize is that these two young cores are arguably the two best in the conference. The East is as weak as ever, and both teams could easily find themselves atop the standings in just a few years. While, at least for now, it’s a case of which team is worse, as close as next season, they could be battling for postseason positions.
To truly get a grasp of the next hottest NBA rivalry, it’s important to analyze how the teams look now and take a look at their history. Let’s dive in.
Future Potential
For Washington, the rising sophomores of Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington serve as the foundation of the Wizards’ rebuild. Additionally, rookie Tre Johnson seems to be heading into his first season far more polished than some believed after dominating the Summer League.
The Wizards also have solid depth at every position. Players like Kyshawn George, AJ Johnson, and Will Riley headline a bench that has a little bit of everything. Additionally, players like Khris Middleton, Bilal Coulibaly, and Corey Kispert should be healthy and ready to go at the beginning of the season. Mixing in the newly acquired talent of Cam Whitmore, Dillon Jones, and CJ McCollum, the Wizards have built themselves a roster that could certainly compete in a weaker Eastern Conference this season, if they choose to do so.
For Charlotte, injuries have been a main reason they have consistently been towards the bottom of the standings in recent years. If they can keep their stars LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller healthy this season, they shouldn’t have a problem competing. Their newest addition, Summer League standout Kon Knueppel, showed he has the potential to become the best player from this year’s draft class.
The Hornets have solid players all-around. From scorers like Spencer Dinwiddie and Tre Mann, to straight hustlers like Grant Williams and Josh Green. Injuries aside, this team looks decent on paper. It all comes down to staying healthy and finally beginning to fit the puzzle together.
Both teams could easily compete this season, with the conference in a little bit of limbo this upcoming season. However, they aren’t competing for a championship yet. Most likely, these teams will find themselves battling for a Play-In spot, or competing in the Play-In for a playoff spot. However, as things currently stand, what is the history between the two franchises?
Current Battle
As things currently stand, there is a serious argument for both squads on who owns the matchup. Washington has the success, but the Hornets have the bragging rights.
The Wizards are more successful, having one title, while the Hornets have never made a conference finals appearance. However, Washington has been around much longer than Charlotte, being established in 1961 compared to 1988. The Wizards also have a slightly better all-time win percentage, at .443, compared to the Hornets’ .427. Lastly, Washington has more playoff appearances, having made 30 trips to the postseason compared to Charlotte’s 10 postseason appearances.
However, in terms of head-to-head, the Hornets have the advantage. In 136 all-time games, the Hornets lead with a record of 71-65. Last season, the Wizards swept the Hornets in their four-game season series. The teams have never played in a playoff series against each other. That could easily change in the next few seasons, setting up hardware implications.
The Last Word
This entire Washington Wizards-Charlotte Hornets rivalry is based purely on potential. The teams are located close, but have never really been considered rivals before. Partially because they’ve never both been decent at the same time. Both teams have talented young cores that can surely become the best in the league. However, if one team pans out and the other doesn’t, it will become a case of “what-if.” However, if both teams can fit their puzzles together, the NBA may have two extremely talented teams battling it out in the East every season. One way or another, time will have to tell.
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