The Charlotte Hornets are streaking, playing with edge, and showing real fight — but while Buzz City is heating up, other NBA teams seem to be racing in the opposite direction.

On this episode of Fanatically Speaking, Kent breaks down the Hornets’ recent run, the physicality, the energy shift, and what it means for the future in Charlotte. Is this just a hot stretch, or are we seeing the start of a culture change?

At the same time, the tanking conversation is back. With several teams clearly prioritizing draft position over wins, Kent revisits the NBA’s growing competitive balance problem — and reintroduce the Fanatically Speaking fix to discourage tanking once and for all.

Are the Hornets building something real?

Is tanking quietly hurting the league again?

And would the NBA ever adopt a system that actually rewards competition?

Buzz City is fighting. The league might be folding. Let’s talk about it.