Source: Streeter Lecka / Getty
Earlier today inside Spectrum Center, the Hornets introduced new ownership, after Michael Jordan’s sale was approved and processed by the NBA. Rich Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, who agreed to buy the majority stake back in March, addressed the media after it was approved and processed by the league yesterday. This ends the 13-year run for Jordan, which saw very little success on the basketball court while being an integral part of the community off the court. Schnall and Plotking both made it known that they have a deep love for the game of basketball, and they understand the importance of being involved with the franchise on a day-to-day basis, with the hopes of building a consistent winner in Charlotte, something the franchise hasn’t experienced in some time now.
The one thing you have to like about the new governors of the Hornets is their belief that Charlotte can be a destination place, as Plotkin stated in his session with the media: “We think ultimately this is a top 10-15 franchise in the NBA in terms of attraciveness, and it;s our job to produce winning basketball.” That messaging is a far cry from what we’ve heard over the years, as Charlotte has functioned like the small market organization that they are, which has made it tougher for them to win consistently. Furthermore, there appears to be a more concerted effort to bring a winner to the Queen City, and RIch Schnall echoed that by saying “We’re committed to invest in this franchise, to invest in our arena, to invest in our team. The future for our team is bright.” While it’s probably not fair to question whether or not Michael Jordan cared about the Hornets being a winning organization or not, his actions would lead you to believe otherwise.
Speaking of Michael Jordan, it doesn’t appear that he’s going anywhere, as he’s staying on in a minority role, and will have a presence inside the building. When asked about that decision, Schnall stated, “He’s Michael Jordan, he’s meant a lot to this franchise. While last year was disappointing, we have a great foundation, and he deserves a lot of credit for that. When we start winning basketball games, to have Micahel around and be a part of that, is an exciting thing for the NBA and all our fans.”
The biggest thing to take away from today is that for the first time in a long time, there is hope if you’re a Hornets fan that this team is going to be run properly from top to bottom, and there is a commitment to winning on the court, while maintaining their status in the local community. While we still have to wait and see how the Gabe Plotkin and Rich Scnhall Hornets will operate, it’s clear that they will be run in a way we haven’t seen since the early years of the franchise.
