1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season

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1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coachDave Cowens
General managerBob Bass
Owner(s)George Shinn
ArenaCharlotte Coliseum
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(Lost to Knicks 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWBT
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 9th season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association.[1] For the first time since the 1990–91 season, Larry Johnson was not on the team's opening day roster. The Hornets had the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Kobe Bryant,[2] but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac,[3] and acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks during the off-season.[4] Under new head coach Dave Cowens,[5] the new-look Hornets played better than expected. After an 8–9 start to the season, the Hornets won 21 of their next 31 games, holding a 29–19 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded Scott Burrell to the Golden State Warriors, while acquiring Ricky Pierce from the Denver Nuggets.[6] The Hornets posted a nine-game winning streak in April, and finished fourth in the Central Division with a franchise best record at 54–28, making it back to the playoffs after a one-year absence.[7]

Glen Rice had the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring with a career-high of 26.8 points per game, earning All-NBA Second Team honors, and finishing in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting.[8] Rice was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, where he set several scoring records and was selected the game's MVP.[9][10] In addition, Mason averaged 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, and earned All-NBA Third Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, while Divac and Matt Geiger both provided the best center combo in the league, as Divac averaged 12.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, and Geiger provided the team with 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but only played just 49 games due to injury. Sixth man Dell Curry contributed 14.8 points per game off the bench, and Muggsy Bogues provided with 8.0 points, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.[11]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hornets were swept by the New York Knicks in three straight games.[12] The Hornets led the NBA in attendance for the eighth and final time during their history in Charlotte. They also had the best three-point percentage in NBA history shooting 42.8% from beyond the arch.[13] Following the season, Pierce re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks.[14]

NBA Draft[]

Main article: 1996 NBA Draft

In the 1996 NBA Draft, the Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick. Before he was chosen by the Hornets, the 17-year-old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West, who immediately foresaw potential in Bryant's basketball ability during pre-draft workouts. West even went on to state that Bryant's workouts were some of the best he had seen. Immediately after the draft, Dave Cowens expressed that the Hornets had no use for him. Fifteen days later, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant.[15]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School
1 13 Kobe Bryant SG  United States Lower Merion HS
1 16 Tony Delk SG/PG  United States Kentucky
2 44 Malik Rose PF  United States Drexel

Roster[]

1996–97 Charlotte Hornets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
F 7 Addison, Rafael 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1964–07–22 Syracuse
G 1 Bogues, Muggsy (C) 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 136 lb (62 kg) 1965–01–09 Wake Forest
G 30 Curry, Dell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–06–25 Virginia Tech
G 00 Delk, Tony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1974–01–28 Kentucky
C 12 Divac, Vlade 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1968–02–03 Yugoslavia
C 52 Geiger, Matt 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1969–09–10 Georgia Tech
F 14 Mason, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–12–14 Tennessee State
G 21 Pierce, Ricky 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–08–19 Rice
F 41 Rice, Glen (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–05–28 Michigan
F 31 Rose, Malik 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1974–11–23 Drexel
F 5 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
G 34 Smith, Tony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1968–06–14 Marquette
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 20, 1997

Roster Notes[]

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Central Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 69 13 .841 – 39–2 30–11 24–4
x-Atlanta Hawks 56 26 .683 13 36–5 20–21 17–11
x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 15 30–11 24–17 17–11
x-Charlotte Hornets 54 28 .659 15 30–11 24–17 14–14
Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 27 25–16 17–24 13–15
Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 30 21–20 18–23 11–17
Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 36 20–21 13–28 10–18
Toronto Raptors 30 52 .366 39 18–23 12–29 6–22
1996–97 NBA East standings
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls 69 13 .841 –
2 y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 8
3 x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 12
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 56 26 .683 13
5 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 15
6 x-Charlotte Hornets 54 28 .659 15
7 x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 24
8 x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 27
10 Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 30
11 Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 36
12 Toronto Raptors 30 52 .366 39
13 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 43
14 Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 47
15 Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 54

Record vs. opponents[]

1996-97 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta — 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–1
Boston 1–3 — 0–4 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–4
Charlotte 3–1 4–0 — 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Chicago 3–1 4–0 4–0 — 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1
Cleveland 1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Dallas 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 3–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 — 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1
Detroit 3–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 — 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Golden State 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 — 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 1–3 4–0 0–4 2–0 0–4 3–1 0–2
Houston 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0
Indiana 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 — 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–3 4–0 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 2–2 — 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 2–0
Miami 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 — 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Milwaukee 0–4 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 — 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Minnesota 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 — 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
Orlando 1–3 4–0 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 — 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–3
Philadelphia 0–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 — 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–2 2–2 4–0 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 — 3–1 1–3 1–1 0–4 4–0 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 — 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
Seattle 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 — 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Toronto 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–4 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 — 1–1 1–1 2–2
Utah 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 — 4–0 2–0
Vancouver 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–4 — 1–1
Washington 1–2 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 —

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

1997 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 24 @ New York L 99–109 Vlade Divac (27) Anthony Mason (13) Anthony Mason (5) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		0–1
2 April 26 @ New York L 93–100 Glen Rice (39) Divac, Mason (12) four players tied (2) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		0–2
3 April 28 New York L 95–104 Glen Rice (22) Anthony Mason (11) Glen Rice (9) Charlotte Coliseum
24,042 		0–3
1997 schedule

Player statistics[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Rafael Addison 41 3 8.7 .402 .400 .786 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.1 3.1
Muggsy Bogues 65 65 28.9 .460 .417 .844 2.2 7.2 1.3 0.0 8.0
Scott Burrell 28 2 17.2 .344 .345 .792 2.8 1.4 0.5 0.4 5.4
Tom Chambers 12 5 6.9 .226 .667 .750 1.2 0.3 0.1 0.0 1.6
Dell Curry 68 20 30.6 .459 .426 .803 3.1 1.7 0.9 0.2 14.8
Tony Delk 61 1 14.2 .465 .464 .824 1.6 1.6 0.6 0.1 5.4
Vlade Divac 81 80 35.1 .494 .234 .683 9.0 3.7 1.3 2.2 12.6
Jamie Feick 3 0 3.3 .500 1.000 .000 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.7
Matt Geiger 49 13 21.3 .489 .300 .701 5.3 0.8 0.4 0.6 8.9
Anthony Goldwire 33 9 17.5 .403 .439 .750 1.2 2.8 0.6 0.0 5.8
Eric Leckner 1 0 11.0 .000 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Anthony Mason 73 73 43.1 .525 .333 .745 11.4 5.7 1.0 0.5 16.2
Ricky Pierce 27 17 24.1 .502 .536 .889 2.5 1.8 0.5 0.1 12.0
Glen Rice 79 78 42.6 .477 .470 .867 4.0 2.0 0.9 0.3 26.8
Malik Rose 54 1 9.7 .477 .000 .613 3.0 0.6 0.5 0.3 3.0
Donald Royal 25 2 12.8 .525 .800 2.3 0.4 0.5 0.1 2.8
Tony Smith 69 39 18.7 .409 .323 .644 1.4 2.2 0.7 0.3 5.0
George Zidek 36 2 8.0 .388 .000 .781 1.8 0.3 0.1 0.1 2.5

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Muggsy Bogues 2 2 29.0 .579 .857 1.000 1.5 2.5 0.5 0.0 16.0
Dell Curry 3 1 16.7 .294 .250 1.000 0.3 1.7 1.3 0.0 4.7
Tony Delk 3 1 28.3 .419 .385 3.3 2.0 0.7 0.0 10.3
Vlade Divac 3 3 38.7 .457 .000 .800 8.7 3.3 1.0 2.0 18.0
Matt Geiger 3 0 10.3 .667 1.000 2.7 0.7 0.7 0.3 2.0
Anthony Mason 3 3 43.7 .421 .538 12.0 3.0 0.3 0.3 13.0
Ricky Pierce 3 2 29.0 .458 .143 2.7 1.3 0.7 0.0 7.7
Glen Rice 3 3 45.7 .491 .375 .913 3.7 3.7 1.3 0.3 27.7
Malik Rose 2 0 6.0 .500 2.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.0
Donald Royal 1 0 4.0 .000 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Tony Smith 2 0 4.5 .000 .000 .500 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

  • July 11, 1996

Released Michael Adams.

Traded Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.

Released Robert Parish.

  • July 14, 1996

Traded Larry Johnson to the New York Knicks for Brad Lohaus and Anthony Mason.

  • October 3, 1996

Signed Bob McCann as a free agent.

October 19, 1996

Signed Tony Smith as a free agent.

  • October 31, 1996

Waived Brad Lohaus.

  • January 6, 1997

Signed Jamie Feick to the first of two 10-day contracts.

  • January 28, 1997

Signed Eric Leckner to a 10-day contract.

  • January 30, 1997

Signed Tom Chambers to a contract for the rest of the season.

  • February 20, 1997

Traded Scott Burrell to the Golden State Warriors for Donald Royal.

Traded Anthony Goldwire and George Zidek to the Denver Nuggets for Ricky Pierce.

  • April 8, 1997

Waived Tom Chambers.

Player Transactions Citation:[16]

References[]

  1. ^ 1996-97 Charlotte Hornets
  2. ^ "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice". Washington Post. June 27, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "A New Day for Vlade". Los Angeles Times. July 21, 1996. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "Johnson-for-Mason Said to Be Complete". Los Angeles Times. July 13, 1996. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  5. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Cowens Is Fired Up to Coach". New York Times. May 29, 1996. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Nuggets made three trades, Hornets and Pacers two each". AP News. February 20, 1997. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "1996–97 Charlotte Hornets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Rice Stages His Own Shootout in East's Victory". New York Times. February 10, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "1996–97 Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Knicks Sweep Away Hornets, and Season of Doubts". New York Times. April 29, 1997. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "1996–97 NBA Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  14. ^ "Milwaukee Bucks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Bucks". Hoops Habit. August 11, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "Once again, the Hornets didn't kick Kobe Bryant out the door in '96". The Charlotte Observer. April 3, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "1996–97 Charlotte Hornets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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