Amidst a multitude of early-season injuries, the Charlotte Hornets called on Kelly Oubre Jr. to shoulder the heaviest load of his basketball career. And while the veteran rose to the daunting challenge, he wasn’t necessarily satisfied with the results, although they did provide valuable insight on how he can take the next step as an NBA player.
LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward and Dennis Smith Jr. all endured multi-week absences around the start of the Hornets’ 2022-23 schedule, providing Oubre with an increased opportunity and role. The now 27-year-old utilized a more drive-based, attack-the-basket offensive approach on his way to career highs in scoring (20.