There’s no argument against Tidjane Salaun being the Charlotte Hornets’ [most improved player](https://swarmandsting.com/hornets-most-improved-player-youngster-no-one-saw-coming) this season. An extended stint with the Greensboro Swarm appears to have been transformative for the second-year pro. Interestingly, it’s Liam McNeeley’s turn to make waves in the G League, and there’s hope that he can experience something similar soon.
Salaun had a forgettable rookie campaign, being considered one of the worst rotation players in the league, primarily due to his dreadful shooting percentages. It looked like he was on the way to another miserable season after starting this year shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range in the Hornets’ first seven games.
At least he was a plus/minus darling, so there’s that. Still, the Hornets thought it best to assign him to the Swarm despite their massive hole at the power forward position.
As it turned out, all Salaun needed was reps and a confidence booster via the G League. Not only did his shots look great, but his decision-making with the ball also showed major progress. He recorded three 20-point games and two double-doubles to prove further that labeling him a bust was premature.
Tidjane Salaun flourishes
-------------------------
Earlier this month, Charlotte decided to recall Salaun. And it didn’t take long for him to showcase his new and improved self. In his first three outings after a month-long stay with the Swarm, he put up 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest and converted 63.6 percent of his field-goal attempts. His 3-point shooting also turned a lot of heads, as he went 9-14 from downtown during that stretch.
Since then, the French forward’s numbers have gone down a bit. But his efficiency has remained solid enough for him to raise his field-goal percentage to 51.5 percent and 3-point accuracy to 47.4 percent.
He has also remained one of the Hornets’ most energetic defenders and has managed to use his athleticism and length to be a disruptive force on that end of the floor.
Liam McNeeley thriving
----------------------
Buzz City could have another Salaun situation with McNeeley. The young swingman has been the team’s worst rookie despite being drafted in the first round and generating some buzz as a [dark-horse steal of the 2025 draft](https://swarmandsting.com/hornets-got-absolute-steal-draft-summer-league-proven-it) candidate over the summer.
McNeeley’s production in his first 14 games in a Hornets uniform wasn’t as bad as Salaun’s rookie numbers. However, he still looked pretty underwhelming, especially when compared to how Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James have fared so far.
The club’s decision to assign him to Greensboro appears to have been helpful because it afforded him more playing time and increased opportunities to handle the ball. In four matches in the G League, he averaged 19.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per contest. He also served a highlight-reel play that deserves more attention.
The Hornets have already recalled McNeeley, making him available for their bout against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Hopefully, his brief time with the Swarm was enough to raise his confidence and elevate his performance.