Photo: Peter Baba

A healthy roster was a rare luxury for the Charlotte Hornets last season, but this year’s optimism comes with cautious hope. Two players in particular – Grant Williams (ACL, meniscus) and Josh Green (shoulder surgery) – are working their way back.

Head coach Charles Lee was encouraged by their progress:

“I think both guys have been attacking their rehab plans really well… They are making positive strides, and I’m just really happy with how they show up every day, how they’re attacking their rehab.”

Still, Lee avoided giving a return date, acknowledging that recovery is rarely linear:

“You take a couple steps forward and then… you might have a step back, but… their mindset has been not to let that slow them down.”

For a Hornets team that endured key absences last season, the goal isn’t just to get these players back on the court – it’s to ensure they’re at full strength when they do.

Lee’s emphasis on mindset and consistent work echoes a broader theme for Charlotte’s season: progress over panic.

Charles Lee Talks Hornets Offseason https://t.co/S9eVrSMk82 pic.twitter.com/6zBVy1JxcO