Josh Okogie Stuns Fans With Career-High Performance: Highlights, Reactions & What’s Next

Dateline: July 15, 2025 — Charlotte, NC H2: Hornets Cut Ties With Defensive Specialist Josh Okogie The Charlotte Hornets have officially waived 26-year-old guard Josh Okogie one day before his $7.7 million 2025-26 salary became fully guaranteed, immediately pushing the rugged wing into unrestricted free agency. The move ends a brief six-month stint that began when Charlotte acquired Okogie from the Phoenix Suns at February’s trade deadline. H2: Why Charlotte Pulled the Plug • Roster logjam on the wing after drafting five-star rookie Malik Favors • Upcoming payday for breakout forward Brandon Miller • Front office desire to preserve cap flexibility heading into a deep 2026 free-agent class Okogie’s contract guarantee deadline forced Charlotte’s hand; waiving him opens nearly $8 million in space while creating a path to convert two-way standout Drew Peterson to a standard NBA deal. H3: Okogie’s 2024-25 Snapshot • 40 games for Charlotte & Phoenix • 7.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG in 15.6 minutes • 44.3 FG%, 33.8 3P% • Ranked top-25 among qualified wings in defensive EPM Though his scoring remains modest, Okogie’s high-energy closeouts, screen navigation and willingness to guard elite scorers kept him in Steve Clifford’s closing lineups throughout March. H2: Teams Already Linked to Okogie 1. Los Angeles Lakers – Rob Pelinka reportedly wants another perimeter stopper after losing Jarred Vanderbilt to knee surgery. 2. Miami Heat – Erik Spoelstra values switchable defenders who thrive in “Heat Culture.” 3. Dallas Mavericks – Dallas still needs a low-usage defender next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. 4. Golden State Warriors – If Klay Thompson departs, the Dubs will scour the bargain bin for wings with playoff reps. H3: Fit Check • Lakers: Immediate minutes guarding the West’s elite wings; Los Angeles can offer the bi-annual exception. • Heat: Opportunity to follow the Caleb Martin path—minimum deal that blossoms into a rotation spot. • Mavericks: Ability to siphon toughest assignments off Doncic every night. • Warriors: Defensive IQ meshes with Golden State’s switch-everything scheme. H2: Who Is Josh Okogie? Born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in Snellville, Georgia, Okogie starred at Georgia Tech before the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him 20th overall in 2018. His relentless motor earned All-Rookie Second-Team love from analysts despite modest box-score stats. After four seasons in Minneapolis he signed with Phoenix, where he became a staple in Monty Williams’ high-pressure defense during the Suns’ 2023 Western Conference title run. H2: Social Media Reaction • Hornets fans thanked Okogie for “diving onto every loose ball.” • Lakers Twitter dubbed him “the Caruso of 2025, but 6-foot-4 with a 7-foot wingspan.” • NBA peers such as Kevin Durant praised his “elite dog in him,” predicting he “won’t be on the market long.” H2: What Happens Next Okogie can sign with any team immediately; his new club will inherit no guaranteed money beyond the veteran’s chosen deal. Expect quick workouts this week in Las Vegas, where executives are already gathered for Summer League. With training camps only 10 weeks away, the market for a proven, low-maintenance stopper should heat up fast. H2: SEO-Friendly Takeaways • Josh Okogie waived by Charlotte Hornets on July 15, 2025 • Defensive ace now top name on NBA free-agent board • Lakers, Heat, Mavericks, Warriors among potential suitors • Move saves Hornets $7.7 million in salary cap space Keep this page bookmarked for real-time updates on Okogie’s next NBA destination and the ripple effects across the 2025 free-agency landscape.