New Starting 5

Around the NBA: Reactions to Coach Charles Lee’s New Hornets Starting Lineup

August 1st, 2025 – By Almondoh Joi | ESPN Insider

The Official Hornets Starting Five (per sources):

• PG: Ben Simmons

• SG: Brandon Miller

• SF: Josh Okogie

• PF: Moussa Diabaté

• C: Bol Bol

With this lineup, Head Coach Charles Lee has made a bold and unconventional statement — defense, length, and switchability over traditional roles or flash. League insiders, scouts, and former players are buzzing about it.

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Kendrick Perkins (ESPN):

“This ain’t your typical starting five, but I love it. You got Ben Simmons running point with ZERO pressure to score. You got Miller sliding to the two — he’s gonna EAT against smaller guards. Okogie and Diabaté are dogs on defense. Bol Bol is… well… chaos incarnate.”

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JJ Redick (ESPN):

“Charles Lee clearly isn’t afraid to experiment. But I worry about spacing. Diabaté can’t stretch the floor. Simmons won’t shoot. Okogie’s inconsistent. You better pray Brandon Miller turns into prime Ray Allen — or it gets real ugly in the halfcourt.”

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Anonymous Western Conference Scout:

“This team could switch everything 1–5. They’re long, mobile, and unpredictable. It’s like a poor man’s version of the 2018 Celtics. But… they might average 97 points per game. So there’s a tradeoff.”

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Gilbert Arenas (Podcast – No Chill):

“This is some wild 2K MyLeague lineup — and I’m not mad at it. Let ‘em run. Let Bol Bol be KD, let Simmons be Magic, and let Diabaté jump out the gym. Charlotte ain’t winning a ring, so why not be fun?”

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What the Lineup Signals

• Ben Simmons is officially the engine of the offense. The Hornets trust him to facilitate — and hide his offensive shortcomings behind Miller and Bol.

• Brandon Miller becomes the primary scoring option from the off-ball spot. It’s his team now.

• Josh Okogie is the defensive enforcer, drawing the toughest perimeter matchups nightly.

• Moussa Diabaté is a bet on raw athleticism, rebounding, and motor — the Hornets want to mold him into their version of a young Pascal Siakam.

• Bol Bol gets the green light at center, a high-variance move that could either redefine the position… or burn the whole thing down.

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Fan Reaction (Reddit / X / Instagram)

“We’re gonna be the weirdest 32-win team in history. LET’S GOOOO.” — @BuzzCityFaithful

“Ben. Brandon. Bol. That’s a cult. I’m in.” — @HornetsLifer

“No shooting. No problem. Charles Lee trying to out-defend the world.” — @JunkyardSwarm

“This is the anti-LaMelo lineup. Quiet, gritty, unpredictable. I like it more than I should.” — u/HornetHeel95

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Almondoh’s Take:

Coach Lee is planting his flag. This starting five is unorthodox, long, and gritty. It may not light up scoreboards, but it will frustrate opponents and push the pace. And maybe… just maybe… they’ve found an identity in the chaos.

If they get even league-average shooting from the bench?

This team could sneak up on a lot of folks.

📲 Follow @AlmondohKnows for more Hornets roster developments and coaching strategy breakdowns.