Latest news with #McNeeley
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Biggest Charlotte Hornets overreactions from 2025 NBA Summer League
The post Biggest Charlotte Hornets overreactions from 2025 NBA Summer League appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Charlotte Hornets are off to a perfect start at the 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, going 3-0 with gritty wins over the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and Dallas Mavericks. While the Summer League isn't always predictive of NBA success, it does offer a sneak peek at what might be – and fans have already started crafting their overreactions accordingly. Heading into the 2025 NBA offseason, the Charlotte Hornets had a clear objective – surround their young core with enough talent and stability to finally crawl out of the Eastern Conference basement. The Hornets selected four rookies in the 2025 NBA Draft, and all of them got their first opportunity to prove themselves during their summer league debuts. From KJ Simpson's burst scoring to Tidjane Salaun's all-around flashes, to Ryan Kalkbrenner's defensive dominance, the Hornets' 2025 rookie class has turned heads. But before we crown the next All-Rookie team, let's break down the early performances, followed by some good old-fashioned overreactions. KJ Simpson is the Hornets' future starting point guard Stats: 19 pts vs PHI, 21 pts vs UTH, 18 pts + 7 ast vs DAL He's been electric, averaging 19 points and five-plus assists per game while controlling pace and showing poise in late-game moments. Could he overtake Tre Mann or Vasilije Micić for backup duties this season? Don't be shocked if he plays real minutes by December. Tidjane Salaun will be a 2-way problem right away Stats: 16 pts vs PHI, 20 pts vs UTH, 6 pts vs DAL He's looking like a future star. His physicality, switchability, and shot mechanics have all popped. His stats don't jump off the page yet, but if you watched the games, his instincts scream 'future starter.' Overreaction? Maybe. But he looks like a mini-Pascal Siakam in motion. Ryan Kalkbrenner is the Hornets' defensive anchor Stats: 7 pts vs PHI (Game-saving block at the buzzer), 10 pts vs UTH, 9 pts vs DAL He's turning 'potential' into tangible defensive moments. Hornets might stash him as interior insurance all season. He's already had two games with multiple blocks and a game-winning swat. Kalkbrenner may not be flashy, but his positional awareness and shot deterrence are NBA-ready. Could he steal backup center minutes? Charlotte might already be debating it internally. Liam McNeeley is the most NBA-ready rookie on the roster Stats: 14 pts vs PHI, 22 pts vs UTH McNeeley has vaulted from rookie sleeper to instant impact, and could lead to real bench minutes right out of the gate. Efficient from deep, confident off the dribble, and calm in big moments — McNeeley has looked like a polished pro. He might not have the highest ceiling, but if Charlotte needs a floor-spacing wing off the bench, he's got the best case among the rookies. 'Yeah, it's been a while since I played my last game,' McNeeley said. 'The last game didn't go the way I wanted it to. Basketball is my favorite thing to do, so this was a blast.' Sion James is Herb Jones-lite Stats: 3 pts vs PHI, 8 pts vs UTH Viewed as defense-first glue, but these rotations show Charlotte's bench identity evolving – he'll need to prove he can swing games, too. The defense is real. The hustle is real. And the confidence is growing. Sion James might not crack the Hornets' rotation this season, but in a vacuum, he's looked like someone every playoff team would love to stash on the bench. It's early, but the vibes are elite. Kon Knueppel could be the best shooter on the roster Stats: 5 pts vs UTH, 16 pts vs DAL One double-double and he's now a rookie must-watch. If that's his floor, he might cement a rotation spot. He's hit multiple threes in all three games and looks automatic in rhythm. If Charlotte needs a sniper off the bench, Knueppel could become their go-to floor spacer. Final thoughts: Real optimism or summer mirage? Yes, it's Summer League. Yes, we've seen multiple players dominate in July before vanishing in October. But the Hornets have real cause for optimism, these aren't just raw athletes; they're smart, skilled, and role-ready prospects. If these games were any indication, the Hornets' rookie class is stealing headlines: KJ is orchestrating, McNeeley is dominant off the bench, Knueppel is rebounding and shooting, and Kalkbrenner is blocking buzzer-beaters. It's hype heaven, but remember, this is July, not December. Still… Charlotte's young core is giving us just enough reasons to dream. With the coaching staff experimenting with various combinations, the chemistry already forming between Simpson, Salaun, and McNeeley bodes well. The Summer League crown doesn't mean much, but for the Hornets, one of the NBA's youngest teams, it's about building belief. So far, mission accomplished. Related: Hornets add forward with Charles Lee ties on 2-way contract Related: LaMelo Ball gets major advice from Baron Davis
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Hornets' Liam McNeeley to sign shoe endorsement contract with Nike
Charlotte Hornets rookie Liam McNeeley has reportedly agreed to sign a multiyear shoe and apparel endorsement contract with Nike, according to Nick DePaula on X. McNeeley was the Big East Freshman of the Year, averaging 14.5 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists on 38.1% shooting from the field at UConn. He is the seventh player in program history to win the award, joining the likes of Stephon Castle, Rudy Gay and Khalid El-Amin. The 29th pick joins a talented roster of players signed to Nike, headlined by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George and Devin Booker. Others, like Victor Wembanyama, Zaccharie Risacher and Chet Holmgren, also represent the Swoosh. McNeeley is the latest first-year player to sign with an apparel company. Cooper Flagg (New Balance), Dylan Harper (Nike), VJ Edgecombe (Adidas), Kon Knueppel (Jordan Brand), Ace Bailey (Nike) and Jeremiah Fears (Adidas) have all previously signed with brands. The 19-year-old debuted with the Hornets in the NBA Summer League, averaging 18 points, 8.5 rebounds and four assists on 42.9% shooting from 3-point range in two appearances. He produced a double-double on July 11 with 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. McNeeley is part of a stacked draft class for the Hornets, along with Knueppel (No. 4 pick), Sion James (33rd pick) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (34th pick). The group won the summer league championship and will look to carry that momentum into next year.
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Hornets' Liam McNeeley reacts to double-double debut in summer league
Liam McNeeley shined under the Las Vegas sun!☀️ 22 PTS☀️ 12 REB☀️ 6 AST☀️ 3 3PM Liam McNeeley registered a double-double on Friday to tip off the NBA Summer League, helping the Charlotte Hornets defeat the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas, Nevada. McNeeley produced a team-high 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the 111-105 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center. He went 7-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, in 28 minutes of work off the bench. The 29th pick showcased each element of his game in the contest, from his floor spacing to his ability to make plays for others. He crashed the glass hard and immediately looked to push the pace off each missed shot by the Jazz throughout his time on the court. "I know I can only control two things, and that is my attitude and my effort," McNeeley told Dave McMenamin of ESPN after the game. "But if I have a great attitude and I give all my effort, that is all I can do." McNeeley is part of a crowded draft class for the Hornets, joining Kon Knueppel (five points, four assists), Sion James (eight points, three rebounds) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (10 points, five rebounds). The group contributed well in its first action together in a competitive setting. The Hornets will play at least four more games after beginning their stint on Friday. The exhibition serves as an excellent opportunity for their incoming rookies to begin building chemistry with current roster players like Tidjane Salaün, KJ Simpson and Damion Baugh. The organization was impressed with each player during the predraft process and believes they can play pivotal roles for coach Charles Lee, beginning next season. McNeeley is aiming to help the group improve upon its 19-63 record from a season ago. "Winning every game that I can, that's the goal every game to get a win," McNeeley said. "Play together with the guys and then hopefully make the playoffs, that's my goal."
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
True life tales of the climate crisis
On a warm evening in the Downtown Eastside, peer journalists from The Shift newsroom, Jules Chapman and Mike McNeeley, attended the opening premiere in Vancouver of Eyes of the Beast to witness their own climate disaster stories, along with the testimonies of more than 30 others, come to life on stage at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. Props were scattered across the stage, while digital screens hung from the rafters, displaying portraits of climate disaster survivors from across B.C. who lived through the deadly North American 'heat dome' of 2021. As their voices filled the space, actors stepped in to bring their stories to life in a powerful piece of journalistic theatre. Adapted from the award-winning journalism of the Climate Disaster Project, an international newsroom at the University of Victoria (UVic), the documentary theatre production draws from hundreds of testimonies of people who have experienced the devastating effects of climate change. The play is a Neworld Theatre production, made in partnership with the Climate Disaster Project in association with the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts, and supported by Simon Fraser University. The Climate Disaster Project was founded by Sean Holman, the Wayne Crookes Professor of Environmental and Climate Journalism at UVic, and is led by faculty from 11 post-secondary institutions across Canada. Through the project, journalism and writing students partnered with climate disaster survivors to share their stories publicly and identify the common challenges and solutions that emerge from their experiences. What sets this production apart, Holman says, is its commitment to truth — through sharing and amplifying stories about the effects of climate change, which he believes will be the defining human experience of this century. 'We have a tendency to flatten experiences,' said Holman. 'What this play, and the Climate Disaster Project does, is it allows us to truly see one another on the cusp of a new age of disaster.' At UVic and the University of British Columbia, writing and journalism students collaborated with Megaphone and several Downtown Eastside storytellers to co-create firsthand accounts of how they were impacted by the devastating heatwave and wildfires that swept across Western North America in 2021. A number of those powerful narratives were later adapted for the stage in Eyes of the Beast. For Megaphone storytellers Chapman and McNeeley, the theatre experience was deeply personal. Both had shared their stories through Megaphone's involvement in the Climate Disaster Project (along with vendors Peter Thompson, Suzanne Kilroy/Huculak, Yvonne Mark and DJ). During the premiere of the play in downtown Vancouver, Chapman and McNeeley watched actors perform those same stories on stage — and saw their own lives reflected back with emotion and care. Sara van Gaalen portrayed Chapman, while Lachlan Harris-Fiesel took on the role of McNeeley. At the end of each performance, audiences were invited to share their own impressions with the Neworld creative team and a designated 'policy listener.' Each night, a different policy listener was invited to witness the play and hear audience feedback before offering a personal reflection. Guests included Vancouver Couns. Mike Klassen and Sean Orr; Sarah Henderson, scientific director of Environmental Health Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control; Lytton Mayor Denise O'Connor; and Patti MacAhonic, director of the Fraser Valley Regional District. Holman, the Climate Disaster Project's founding director, said he always had in mind to invite a 'policy listener' to see the performances. 'My background is as an investigative journalist,' he told Megaphone, 'so when something goes wrong, you want someone in power to do something about it. Or at least know that this happened, so they can do something for next time.' Megaphone's own 'policy listeners' also had feedback: 'Each story spoke of both despair and survival' — Julie Chapman 'It was very cool seeing my story and hearing my words on stage. All the stories were moving and emotional — I laughed, I cried, and it made me think more outside of the box. Yes, we have many suffering here in the Downtown Eastside, but there were survivors from across the province who lost everything they owned and cherished. People trapped in their towns, not being able to leave — it must have been terrifying! It would have been nice to have had more of a Q&A with Mike Klassen. For example, I would have liked to know [what happened to the] free AC (air conditioner) program with BC Hydro? Residents can't get enough relief from a fan, and the rooms down here can be staggeringly hot. Also, the criteria has changed to get the ACs. They've started asking people who apply to provide a doctor's note stating why they need an air conditioning unit. Here's a thought: because they are hot and a fan only blows the hot air around. It doesn't combat the heat. To me, the stories were powerful because each one spoke of both despair and survival. They spoke of communities coming together to help other community members who were more vulnerable, or less mobile. It was a relief to hear that humans haven't stopped caring for each other in times of devastation. Despite the tragedies and deaths, people still persevered through unimaginable circumstances and found the strength to carry on. That truly resonates with me.' 'The array of experiences people had in B.C. was shocking' — Mike McNeeley I was amazed how accurate the actors delivered the message I said during my interview. I shared everything from my cat panting to stay alive, to trying to find a cooling station in Vancouver. Seeing the array of experiences people had throughout B.C. was somewhat shocking. Everything from floods to the heat dome was covered. There were also great visual and auditory elements in the play. I think the Q&A session after the play was engaging. It was also great to have Vancouver city councillor Mike Klassen share his shocking stories that happened to him during the heat dome, too. 2021 North American heat wave was a deadly record-breaker Like Chapman's and McNeeley's stories in the Downtown Eastside, the diverse stories in Eyes of the Beast come from everyday people navigating extraordinary environmental circumstances: a couple debate which animals to save on their Abbotsford farm; an actor collapses from heat stroke at the B.C. legislature; an overwhelmed emergency room doctor faces the most traumatic day of his career as he's confronted with more cardiac arrests than he can possibly treat. The 2021 heat wave impacted most of Western North America from late June to mid-July 2021, resulting in the highest temperature ever measured in Canada: 49.6 degrees Celsius. In B.C., the heat dome resulted in 619 heat-related deaths — many among vulnerable people such as those without adequate housing and those living alone — and sparked intense wildfires, including the one that destroyed the town of Lytton. The production drove home the message that climate disasters don't just happen to other people in distant places — they affect people from all walks of life, from privileged landowners to unhoused residents. Their experiences may, and do, differ greatly, but the impact is often equally devastating. This spring, Eyes of the Beast also made history. In May, it became the first theatre production ever to receive a Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) Award, winning Silver in the Environmental and Climate Change category — a groundbreaking moment for both journalism and the performing arts. To learn more, visit The Climate Disaster Project's website at: to read stories from Jules Chapman, Mike McNeeley and more fantastic Megaphone storytellers. Megaphone's climate stories were published in the June 2022 edition of the magazine. Download a free copy here . Jules Chapman and Mike McNeeley are peer journalists with The Shift newsroom. Amy Romer is Megaphone's Local Journalism Initiative reporter and mentor for The Shift. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. 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USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Liam McNeeley reacts to Hornets' official acquisition of his draft rights
The Charlotte Hornets announced on Monday that they officially acquired the draft rights to No. 29 overall pick Liam McNeeley from the Phoenix Suns. The front office also acquired a 2029 first-round draft pick and guard Vasa Micic in exchange for center Mark Williams and a 2029 second-round pick from Phoenix. The team, in addition to its first-round picks, has picked up additional selections via trades in 2026, 2027 and 2029. Charlotte introduced McNeeley on Friday, along with draft picks Kon Knueppel (No. 4 pick), Sion James (33rd pick) and Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (34th pick). With the trade now completed, McNeeley was happy to share the news on X. McNeeley was the Big East Freshman of the Year, averaging 14.5 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists on 38.1% shooting from the field. He is the seventh player in program history to win the award, joining the likes of Stephon Castle, Rudy Gay and Khalid El-Amin. The 19-year-old registered five 20-point games, including a career-high 38 points and 10 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range on Feb. 11. He joined Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant as the only freshmen in modern history with 35 points, 10 rebounds and five 3s in a road game. McNeeley won't have to wait long to get started with the Hornets, with the team beginning its stint in the NBA Summer League on July 11. He is excited to join the team and get to work with several other players he has competed against for years.
