In the Hornets' Nest

by Joe Drape

First published 1989

The Charlotte Hornets have arrived in the NBA, and the city buzzes with basketball fever. Drape takes readers inside the franchise's debut season, following the players as they adjust to professional basketball and a new city. The coaches struggle to build a competitive team from scratch while managing expectations. Fans pack the arena night after night, their hopes rising and falling with each game. The Hornets organization works behind the scenes to establish itself in the league's hierarchy. Through locker room conversations and front office meetings, the story reveals how a basketball team becomes part of a community's identity. The season unfolds with victories that spark celebrations and defeats that test everyone's resolve. At its heart, this is about people chasing a shared dream in a city hungry for major league sports.

Genres: 20th-century, business, american, contemporary, sports, 21st-century, basketball

Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, underdog

Setting: Charlotte, NBA

Period: Debut Season

269 pages · Hardcover · St Martins Pr

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