What do you think of the Charlotte Hornets resigning Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a 4 year, $52 million deal recently? Well, the Hornets head coach, Steve Clifford, is very excited to have MKG back on the team, and he has plenty of reasons for why they re-signed him, but the main reason is because the Hornets simply play better basketball when he is in the game. Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports Clifford saying,
“When he’s on the floor we play well; when he’s not on the floor we don’t.”
Clifford is right. In the past two seasons, the Hornets are 62-55 with MKG in the starting lineup, and without him, they are 14-33. They play much better basketball with him, and Clifford acknowledged that the Hornets they need him on the court, saying,
“As much as anybody that we have had in the two years I’ve been here, he’s been the guy that we can’t play well without for any long period of time,”
MKG may not be a superstar in the league, but he plays great defense, and he plays extremely hard. The Hornets players and coaches love having him on the team. Kemba Walker told the Associated Press,
“His motor is different. The type of player he is, you have to have him on the court. We need him on the court every single night. When he’s out there, your chance of winning is definitely higher — definitely.”
MKG is a great fit for the Charlotte Hornets, and his re-signing is great for him and the team. He will continue to work harder to achieve his goal of being the best defensive player in the league. He is also working on his offensive game too, so he can be come more of a well-rounded player. It seems like he wants to be a lifetime Hornet, and the way that the coaching staff and front office talk about him, it seems like he will be.
