Season stats: 2025-26. Updated 6 h ago.
Royce O'Neale Brings Nine Years of Floor Spacing to Charlotte
newsroom · 1 h agoRoyce O'Neale joins the Hornets for the 2026-27 season after playing last season with Phoenix. He is not on the injury report, and Charlotte has not played a game yet, so the opener is still ahead.
A Veteran Addition
Royce O'Neale is now a Charlotte Hornet, wearing No. 00 at forward. He is 33 years old, stands 6-6, weighs 226 pounds, and enters his ninth NBA season out of Baylor. Last season he played for Phoenix, so this is a fresh start in Charlotte. He arrives as a veteran wing who has logged real minutes at the NBA level for nearly a decade. For a Hornets roster looking for stability on the perimeter, that kind of experience matters, even before a single game is played under the new uniform.
What He Did Last Season
With Phoenix in 2025-26, O'Neale appeared in 78 games, averaging 28.4 minutes, 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks. He shot 42.1 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three, and 71.1 percent from the line, with a true shooting mark of 59.6 percent. His usage rate was 13.9, and his plus-minus was -1.4. Those are last season's numbers with the Suns, not this year's, but they give Charlotte fans a clear picture of the role he is built for: a low-usage, high-efficiency three-point shooter who does not need the ball to be effective.
Injury Report
As of now, Royce O'Neale is not on the injury report. There is no injury history listed for him heading into the 2026-27 season. That is good news for a Hornets team hoping to get a full look at its new forward from day one. Health is often the biggest variable for a nine-year veteran, so a clean bill going into camp and the preseason schedule is worth noting. There is nothing else to report on this front right now, and no update on his status beyond being fully available.
Waiting on the Opener
Charlotte has not yet started its 2026-27 season, so there is no record to point to and no recent Hornets game log for O'Neale in a Charlotte uniform. Everything so far is about the roster and what he brings on paper: a proven three-point shooter with 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a night last season in Phoenix, now plugged into a new team. Fans will get their first real look at how he fits once the games start counting. Until then, this is about projection based on last season's tape and the numbers above.
The Bigger Picture
O'Neale's move to Charlotte adds a nine-year veteran to a Hornets roster, with the 2025-26 numbers from Phoenix serving as the best available guide for what he can offer: efficient three-point shooting (40.8 percent), solid rebounding for a wing (4.8 a game), and reliable minutes (28.4 per night, 78 games played). No rumors or trade details are attached to this move beyond the simple fact that he played for Phoenix last season and is with Charlotte now. The Hornets will find out how it translates once the 2026-27 season tips off.
Questions fans ask
What team did Royce O'Neale play for last season?
He played for the Phoenix Suns in 2025-26, appearing in 78 games.
Is Royce O'Neale injured right now?
No, he is not on the injury report.
What number does Royce O'Neale wear for the Hornets?
He wears No. 00 and plays forward.
How did Royce O'Neale shoot last season?
With Phoenix in 2025-26 he shot 42.1 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three, and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line.
How many years has Royce O'Neale played in the NBA?
He is entering his ninth NBA season.
Has Royce O'Neale played a game for the Hornets yet?
No, Charlotte's 2026-27 season has not started, so there is no game log for him with the team yet.
Game log
last 0| Date | Opp | Result | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG | 3P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No games logged yet this season. | |||||||||