Coby White hopes to become part of the Charlotte Hornets' long-term future

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most impressive teams in 2026. The trio of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller looks to be the core for the long-term future. Coby White seems ready to join that core, as he wants to stay with the Hornets beyond the 2025-26 season.

White is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. He will likely get offers around the league because he is a valuable offensive player. However, he would prefer to stay with the Hornets because he likes the organization and he feels right at home in North Carolina.

White wants to stay with the Hornets for the foreseeable future

During his Chicago Bulls days, White was always a shining light on the roster. He was always a positive force on offense, as he was a playmaker and scorer at the same time. It was a tough situation to be in because Chicago kept struggling.

Now that he is with the Hornets, he might have found the optimal role for himself. At the moment, he is a sixth man, which means he has the green light whenever Ball, Knueppel, and Miller are not on the floor. Considering that White loves Charlotte, that might be the role he wants in the long run.

MORE: Coby White had the early sense that the Charlotte Hornets had something special brewing

He has kept a close eye on the Hornets throughout the season. That is probably because they were rivals with the Bulls for the spots in the Play-In Tournament, but it seems the Hornets have leapfrogged White's old team by now.

White will play the remainder of the season in Charlotte, but it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Being an unrestricted free agent means he has the freedom to choose, but at the moment, he seems set on staying in Charlotte.

"They did some podcasts saying they want me to be there for a long time. I don't think they would have said that if they didn't mean it. Obviously, I want to be a Hornet for a long time, so I want to be. Every moment I've been here, I've really enjoyed it, I've really enjoyed everyone's presence here, and I want to be here for a really long time," White said about his future in Charlotte.

It will be an interesting situation for both parties, but they appear to have similar perspectives. If they can sign him to an extension sooner rather than later, it would be good for all the parties moving forward.

More NBA news: 

• Charles Lee boasts praise for Kon Knueppel after making NBA history
• Hornets make NBA history and franchise history in win over Bulls
• Kon Knueppel’s Olympic dream doesn’t feel crazy anymore
• LaMelo Ball focused on winning after franchise record performance
• Charles Lee raves about LaMelo Ball's willingness to be a playmaker despite his hot night