After an impressive sophomore campaign with the University of Connecticut Huskies, James Bouknight heard his name called with the 11th-overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, selected by the up-and-coming Charlotte Hornets.
Fans of the Hornets, and the NBA in general, were excited to see what a young backcourt duo of Bouknight and LaMelo Ball could do together. Unfortunately, through Bouknight’s rookie season, there wasn’t much to be seen.
Charlotte’s new draftee only appeared in 31 games for a total of 304 minutes. Keep in mind that this came in a COVID-riddled season with many G-League players and even some aged-out veterans getting another chance to suit up in the NBA. Despite that fact, Bouknight failed to crack Head Coach James Borrego’s regular rotation.
It’s even more surprising considering that the Hornets underperformed with the amount of talent on their roster. LaMelo Ball continued to establish himself as an All-Star caliber guard this season, and Miles Bridges put together a worthy proposal for the 2021-2022 NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
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And yet, Charlotte failed to grab a guaranteed playoff spot and ultimately flunked out of the Play-In Tournament.
Most of their issues lie on defense, having notched a bottom-10 rating in the NBA with 113.1 points allowed per 100 possessions. Bouknight is projected to be a major boon in that regard, with great size, a sturdy frame, and plenty of athleticism. When he did play, he showed flashes of defensive impact, nabbing seven total steals in his limited playing time.
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Bouknight also majorly impressed in his time in the G-League, having averaged 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and five assists in seven games with the Greensboro Swarm. His lack of playing time seemed to be more of an indictment on Coach Borrego than on him, but maybe Borrego was seeing something that fans and pundits were missing.
If Borrego is still calling plays for the Hornets next season, perhaps James Bouknight could use a change of scenery and a new opportunity.
