The Charlotte Hornets have started their conquest to become back-to-back NBA Summer League champions with their first win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. Jeff Peterson is prioritizing the development of young talent as part of his blueprint, and it starts here.
Liam McNeeley put on an outstanding performance — scoring 28 points on 9-for-18 from the field, 7-for-8 from three-point range, to go along with two rebounds and four assists. It was a statement to the front office and to Hornets fans that they made the right choice in drafting him in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Hornets’ Liam McNeeley Makes Undeniable Statement in Summer League Win
Liam McNeeley Was One of the Lone Bright Spots in the First Summer League Game
McNeeley was the best player on the court Thursday night. He was the only scorer on Charlotte that had more than 15 points. McNeeley was great in every department, and that game alone may have truly secured his spot on the roster.
🎙️ Blaine Mueller on Liam McNeeley: “He was fantastic tonight.”
“Just scoring for him at every level. He was able to get to the rim, get to the free throw line, get into the paint, finish there, and then obviously he shot the ball from three really well…” pic.twitter.com/DkD72illmA
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) July 10, 2026
McNeeley is the proof of concept that you don’t have to immediately start in the NBA as a rookie to become a good player. He played the majority of his rookie season in the G League and looked dominant in several performances. There were questions about whether he should’ve returned to UConn, but that chatter has been quelled.
His development is right on track, as he’s exceeded expectations in the G League and Summer League. Charles Lee has to be intrigued with a young player going 88% from beyond the arc, and how easy he made it look when he got paint touches.
New addition Hannes Steinbach also had a strong night. After a rough first quarter in which he had more turnovers than rebounds, Steinbach settled in well and finished with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting, along with 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks.
Not only was Steinbach very aggressive crashing the glass, but his ability to finish at the rim was on full display. Having a big drive go down the baseline and finish with a reverse layup is something Hornets fans haven’t seen in quite some time.
However, Naz Reid has finesse to his game as well. After McNeeley and Steinbach, there were plenty of question marks.
McNeeley Essentially Secured His Rotation Spot With This Performance
With more Summer League matchups ahead, it would be a shocker if McNeeley didn’t continue performing above expectations. Yes, he probably won’t score almost 30 points every day, but all signs point to him being ready for the big leagues.
Wing depth is going to be important for the Hornets, especially with Brandon Miller’s injury timetable still in question. There’s a strong possibility that McNeeley ends up being a 15-20 minute player as Charlotte takes a step back in a tougher Eastern Conference. McNeeley looked like a complete player last night, and it deserves praise.
Roster shakeups could happen during this major reset period. Sion James turned in a poor showing running point, Christian Anderson Jr. didn’t have a great debut, and Tidjane Salaun didn’t inspire confidence for a third-year player. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Charles Lee make adjustments throughout the season.
Charlotte is set to take on New Orleans on July 11th at 4:00 PM EST for their next Summer League matchup in Las Vegas. If McNeeley turns in another remarkable performance, then the conversation of All-Summer League First- or Second-team needs to be discussed. He looked that good.
Photo Credit: Matthew Smith, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
