North Carolina sports franchises have struggled to win games and make postseason appearances for what has seemed like an eternity.
The Carolina Panthers have been in the midst of a losing season streak since 2019 and the Charlotte Hornets have been mediocre since the 2021-2022 season. The overall sentiment and feeling around North Carolina’s sports has been bleak, to say the least.
However, even though North Carolina’s sports teams may have been mediocre and even downright bad over the years, the players on all of the rosters have been performing at a much higher level compared to the previous years.
Panthers Football
At the end of the 2024 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers have a record of five wins and eleven losses. Compared to their performance last year, the Panthers have improved. The success of the Panthers can’t be pinned down to just one player, but rather to the collective effort of several different players across the roster.
Some performances that should be highlighted are Quarterback Andy Dalton’s week three masterclass against the Las Vegas Raiders, with Dalton throwing 316 yards, three touchdowns, and allowing zero interceptions which is what Dalton has struggled with greatly. Some other incredible performances that should be noted is how exceptional the Offensive Line has played for the Panthers, being regularly ranked as one of the top 10 O-Lines in the NFL, with both Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt as Right and Left Guard being incredible through the end of the season. Lastly, and arguably the most important player of note, is the incredible rise of Bryce Young, with incredible stretches towards the end of the season, throwing a combined 1,706 yards, with 12 touchdowns and only one interception across his utterly dominant stretch.
Hornets Basketball
One week into the 2024 NBA season, the Charlotte Hornets are off to a pretty decent start. Players and overall teamplay are much better than last year. However, with star players such as LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller still being incredibly vital to the success of the team, his success may overshadow the efforts and overall popularity of his fellow teammates. However, two players that have been incredibly important to the Hornet’s overall success, especially with their defense, Point Guard Tre Mann and power forward Moussa Diabaté have been exceptional. Tre Mann for starters has been incredible averaging above his career average of 9.8 points per game, to 14 this year. Shooting 90% of his possible free throws, and also averaging three assists per game on top of all of his other impressive improvements over his tenure in NC. And even though Mann has gone down with an injury for a significant portion of time, the Hornets could still need a person with his skills and abilities down the stretch of the season for sure. As for Diabaté, his general molding into the role of the “big man”, both for his size and defensive capabilities, with highlights including being amongst the top 15 in the NBA in offensive rebounds with 92, and still ranking amongst the highest in the league in offensive rebound percentage as well. Though the Hornets may still be somewhat dismal this year, with the duo of Miller and Ball being incredible and powerhouses on offense, as well as the season still having a lot of games to play. Both Mann and Diabaté’s performances in both offensive and defensive measures should not be undermined and or ignored.
Despite North Carolina’s sports teams being for the most part somewhat disappointing, the performances of each of these players collectively have made the losing less bitter and the future brighter for each of the franchises. And though it may still be too early in the NBA season or too late in the NFL season,
