No, the Charlotte Hornets didn’t win the NBA Finals Wednesday night, but they did secure a victory against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, which was more than enough for Eric Collins. After James opted to rest his ankle rather than participate in the NBA All-Star Game, it was all for naught on Wednesday night. James missed two potential game-tying threes in the final five seconds, sealing a disappointing loss for the Lakers. However, this disappointment for LeBron and his team turned into an epic moment for the Hornets and play-by-play announcer Eric Collins, who left a memorable mark on the win.
LeBron is now 0-21 on game-winning/tying shots since 2020 😳 pic.twitter.com/wv7KH6kY3O
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) February 20, 2025
“James wants it, oh no!” Collins exclaimed as LeBron took aim for an open three-pointer. “No, it’s short!” he yelled after the shot clanked off the front rim, only for the ball to bounce back to LeBron, who attempted to tie the game once more. “James, it’ll count! IT’S OVERRRR! IT’S OVERRRRR,” Collins shouted as the buzzer sounded, marking the thrilling 100-97 victory. “Your Charlotte Hornets win…” Based on the excitement, it felt almost natural for Collins to conclude with, “Your Charlotte Hornets win the NBA Finals.” Unfortunately, they improved to just 14-39 on that fateful February 19.
“Your Charlotte Hornets win here in LA!” Collins added. Now, we return to reality, where the Hornets and Lakers are unlikely to meet in the NBA Finals. What’s even worse is the thought of a world where Collins lacks a regular national gig, depriving basketball fans of thrilling calls like this throughout the playoffs.
