Marco Belinelli has earned the starting shooting guard role with the Hornets as he enters perhaps the most important season of his NBA career.

"This is an important season for me," Belinelli said. "I want to be a complete player. I want to do everything and be an important person for the team."

Belinelli's desire to make an impact is one of the reasons coach Monty Williams has inserted him into the starting lineup.

"He understands where he is in his career," said Williams. "He understands this is an important year for him. He's not afraid, and he has size. You put all those things together, and you have a guy who is hungry and talented and can help you win games."