Last time Hornets made NBA playoffs: Revisiting 2016 Charlotte roster led by Kemba Walker
The Hornets last qualified for the postseason in 2016. It proved a memorable campaign.
Last time Hornets made NBA playoffs: Revisiting 2016 Charlotte roster led by Kemba Walker originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Hornets have languished for much of the past decade, struggling to find their way in an ever-changing Eastern Conference.
Times they are a-changin' as of late, with LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel pushing Charlotte on the brink of postseason contention in 2025-26. The Hornets qualified for the play-in game for the second time in five seasons. Their 44-38 mark is the joint-seventh-best record in franchise history, bumping shoulders with some of the franchise's most memorable campaigns.
Charlotte has had a handful of notable postseason runs over the course of its history. Here's a look back at the Hornets' last playoff appearance. MORE: NBA playoff picks, predictions for 2026 bracket from first round games to NBA Finals Last time Hornets made NBA playoffs The Hornets last qualified for the postseason in 2016, posting a 48-34 record to finish sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Anchored by Kemba Walker and a motley crew of talented -- if understated -- role players, Charlotte posted its fifth-highest win total in franchise history. Walker was the standout, leading the roster in points (20. 9) and steals (1.