Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at the Spectrum Center.

The Charlotte Hornets franchise started in 1988 as an expansion team owned by George Shinn. In 2002, Shinn moved the team to New Orleans, where they played as the New Orleans Hornets, later changing their name to the Pelicans.

The team came back as an expansion team, called the Charlotte Bobcats, in the 2004–05 NBA season. On June 15, 2006, Michael Jordan, a former NBA player and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, bought part of the team and helped manage it. In 2013, the Bobcats said they would start playing as the Charlotte Hornets in the 2014–15 season.

In August 2023, Jordan sold most of his share in the Hornets to a group of investors led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. He kept a smaller part of the team's ownership.

As of 2025, the Hornets are the only NBA team to have never won a division title, and one of two teams (along with the New Orleans Pelicans) to have never played in the Conference Finals.

History

Further information: History of the Charlotte Hornets

1985–1988: Creation of the Hornets

In 1985, the NBA planned to add three new teams by the 1988–89 season, and later added a fourth. George Shinn, an entrepreneur from Kannapolis, wanted to bring an NBA team to the Charlotte area. He gathered local businessmen to support the new team. Charlotte was known for its love of college basketball and was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It had also been home to the American Basketball Association's Carolina Cougars from 1969 to 1974.

Despite doubts, Shinn's key advantage was the Charlotte Coliseum, a modern arena that could seat almost 24,000 people, the largest basketball-specific arena ever built for an NBA team. On April 5, 1987, NBA Commissioner David Stern told Shinn that his group had been awarded the 24th NBA franchise, starting play in the 1988–89 season. Other new teams were granted to Miami, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and Orlando.

The team was almost named the Charlotte Spirit, but a fan contest chose "Hornets" as the winning name. This name came from British General Cornwallis, who called Charlotte "a hornet's nest of rebellion" after the Battle of Charlotte in 1780. The team chose teal as its main color, starting a fashion trend in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The team's uniforms, designed by Alexander Julian, featured pin stripes for the first time in the NBA.

Shinn hired Carl Scheer as the team's first President and General Manager. Scheer wanted experienced players to build a competitive team quickly. Dick Harter was hired as the first head coach. In 1988, the Hornets joined the 1988 NBA expansion draft along with the Miami Heat. Unlike other expansion teams that focused on young players, Charlotte chose experienced players to compete right away. The team also had three draft picks in the 1988 NBA draft.

1988–1992: Early seasons

The Hornets' first NBA game was on November 4, 1988, at the Charlotte Coliseum, where they lost 133–93 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Four days later, they won their first game against the Los Angeles Clippers, 117–105. On December 23, 1988, the Hornets beat Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 103–101 in Jordan's first return to North Carolina as a professional. Their first season ended with a record of 20–62. Scheer left before the 1989–90 season.

The Hornets were very popular, leading the NBA in attendance, a feat they would achieve seven more times in Charlotte. They eventually sold out 364 consecutive games.

The second season was difficult. Players disagreed with Dick Harter's defensive style, and he was replaced mid-season by assistant Gene Littles after an 8–32 start. The team still struggled, finishing with a 19–63 record.

The team improved in the following season, winning eight of their first fifteen games, including a 120–105 victory over the Washington Bullets. However, they then lost eleven games in a row. The Hornets hosted the 1991 NBA All-Star Game and finished with a 26–56 record. Gene Littles was fired after the season and replaced by general manager Allan Bristow.

With the first pick in the 1991 NBA draft, the Hornets chose power forward Larry Johnson from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Johnson had a strong season, finishing among the league leaders in points and rebounds and winning the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Guard Kendall Gill led the team in scoring, averaging over 20 points per game. The team stayed in contention for a playoff spot until March but finished the year with a 31–51 record.

1992–1995: The Larry Johnson/Alonzo Mourning era

The Hornets won the second overall pick in the 1992 draft and chose Georgetown center Alonzo Mourning. Now with Johnson and Mourning, along with Kendall Gill, they had one of the league's best young trios. The team finished their fifth season at 44–38, their first winning record and their first playoff berth in franchise history. They finished fifth in the Eastern Conference and upset the Boston Celtics in the first round, with Mourning winning the series with a 20-footer in game four. However, they lost to the New York Knicks in the second round.

The Hornets finished the 1993–94 season with a 41–41 record, just missing the playoffs. Injuries to Johnson and Mourning limited their play, but they still led the team in points-per-game.

In the 1994–95 season, the Hornets finished with a 50–32 record, returning to the playoffs. Johnson and Mourning again led in points-per-game and rebounding. However, they lost in the first round to the Chicago Bulls in four games. After the season, the Hornets traded Mourning to the Miami Heat for forward Glen Rice, center Matt Geiger, and guard Khalid Reeves.

1995–1998: The Glen Rice era

Glen Rice quickly made an impact, leading the team in scoring during the 1995–96 season. Rice and Johnson provided strong scoring, while Geiger tied with Johnson for the team lead in rebounds, and All-Star guard Kenny Anderson ran the point for the injured Muggsy Bogues. The Hornets were competitive but missed the playoffs, finishing with a 41–41 record. Allan Bristow resigned, and Dave Cowens took over.

The 1996 off-season brought many changes: Anderson did not return, Johnson was traded to the Knicks for power forward Anthony Mason, and the team traded on draft day 1996 to acquire center Vlade Divac from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the rights to rookie Kobe Bryant. The new team, with Divac and Geiger at center, Mason averaging a double-double, Bogues back at point, and Rice having his best season, achieved the best record in team history at the time, finishing 54–28 and returning to the playoffs. However, they lost to the Knicks in three games.

The 1997–98 season was also successful. Muggsy Bogues was traded early, and the team added point guard David Wesley and shooting guard Bobby Phills. With Wesley, Phills, Rice, Mason, and Divac, the Hornets had a 51–31 record and reached the playoffs again, advancing to the second round before losing to the Bulls.

1998–2002: Final years of original personnel

The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to a lockout. Glen Rice was traded to the Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell, and Dave Cowens resigned mid-season, replaced by Paul Silas. The team finished 26–24 but missed the playoffs.

The next three seasons saw the Hornets in the playoffs each year, reaching the conference semifinals twice. Before the 2002 playoffs, the NBA approved moving the team to New Orleans for the 2002–03 season, mainly because attendance dropped due to Shinn's declining popularity.

2004–2014: Charlotte Bobcats

After the move to New Orleans, the NBA promised Charlotte a new expansion team. In 2002, a group led by Robert L. Johnson was awarded the franchise. The team was named the Bobcats in 2003. They played at the Coliseum until a new arena was ready.

2004–2010: Return to Charlotte

The Bobcats' first game was on November 4, 2004, a 103–96 loss to the Washington Wizards. They won their first game two days later against the Orlando Magic, 111–100. On December 14, they beat the New Orleans Hornets in overtime in their first return to Charlotte since the move. They finished their first season 18–64, but Emeka Okafor won the 2004–05 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

In the 2005 NBA draft, the Bobcats chose Raymond Felton and Sean May from North Carolina. In their second season, they opened Charlotte Bobcats Arena with a win over the Celtics. Despite struggles, they finished 26–56, an eight-game improvement. After the season, Michael Jordan bought a minority stake and became head of basketball operations.

The team improved in the 2006–07 season but had an eight-game losing streak, finishing 33–49. Bernie Bickerstaff would not return as coach. Sam Vincent became the new head coach in 2007. They finished the 2007–08 season with a 32–50 record. Sam Vincent was fired in April 2008.

On April 29, 2008, the Bobcats hired Larry Brown as head coach. In the 2008 NBA draft, they chose D. J. Augustin from Texas. On December 10, 2008, they traded for Boris Diaw and Raja Bell from Phoenix. The team almost made the playoffs but finished 35–47. Majority owner Bob Johnson announced he was selling the team.

During the off-season, they drafted Gerald Henderson from Duke. They traded Emeka Okafor for Tyson Chandler and acquired Stephen Jackson and Acie Law from the Golden State Warriors. On February 27, 2010, Johnson sold the team to Jordan, making him the first former NBA player to own a franchise.

On April 9, 2010, the Bobcats made their first playoff berth since 2002 with a 104–103 win over the New Orleans Hornets, finishing the 2009–10 season with a 44–38 record, their first winning season. Gerald Wallace was the team's first and only NBA All-Star. However, they were swept by the Orlando Magic in four games.

2010–2014: Final years of the Bobcats

The Bobcats hoped to make the playoffs again but had a poor start. Larry Brown stepped down, and Paul Silas became head coach. They traded Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers and acquired several players. Injuries derailed their playoff chances, and they finished 34–48.

In the 2011 NBA draft, the Bobcats chose Bismack Biyombo and Kemba Walker. In the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, they had a record of 7–59, the worst in NBA history at the time. On April 30, 2012, Silas would not return as coach. Mike Dunlap was named his replacement.

Despite the poor record, the Bobcats chose Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the second pick in the 2012 NBA draft. They also added several free agents. They snapped a 23-game losing streak with a win against the Pacers but then had an 18-game losing streak. They finished 21–61, the second-worst record in the league. Dunlap was fired, and Steve Clifford became the new coach.

In the 2013 NBA draft, they chose Cody Zeller fourth overall and signed Al Jefferson in free agency. In February 2014, they traded for Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour. They clinched a playoff berth by beating Cleveland, finishing 43–39. However, they were swept by Miami in the first round.

2014–2019: Rise of Kemba Walker

Return of the Hornets

On May 21, 2013, Jordan announced the team would change its name to the Charlotte Hornets for the 2014–15 NBA season, pending NBA approval. The NBA approved the change on July 18, 2013. The team adopted a modified version of the original Hornets' teal-purple-white colors with black, gray, and Carolina blue accents. They unveiled the new logo and identity during a game against the Jazz on December 21. They started the "Buzz City" campaign to celebrate the return. On January 16, 2014, they revealed new Hornets shirts, hats, and gear.

On May 20, 2014, the Bobcats officially became the Charlotte Hornets again. As part of a deal with the NBA and the renamed New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte acquired the history and records of the 1988–2002 Hornets, while the Pelicans kept their records from 2002 to 2013. The Hornets are now considered to have suspended operations from 2002 to 2014, while the Pelicans are seen as a 2002 expansion team. Charlotte had used footage of the original Hornets in the "Buzz City" campaign.

2014–2019: Playoffs and struggles

In the 2014 NBA draft, the Hornets chose Noah Vonleh with the 9th pick. They also acquired several other players in the draft and free agency.

In their first season back as the Hornets, they had a 33–49 record and finished 4th in their division. Lance Stephenson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, who was later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Courtney Lee.

The next season, they improved to 48–34, their best season since the original Hornets era, and returned to the playoffs, losing to the Heat in seven games in the first round. They had their first playoff wins since the original Hornets era.

In the off-season, Jeremy Lin signed with the Brooklyn Nets, Al Jefferson to the Indiana Pacers, and Courtney Lee to the New York Knicks. The Hornets re-signed Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams and added Roy Hibbert, Marco Belinelli, and Ramon Sessions for a second stint. Hibbert was traded mid-season to the Milwaukee Bucks for Miles Plumlee. Kemba Walker was named an Eastern Conference All-star, the first of his career. The Hornets finished the season with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs.

The Hornets had a successful 2017 off-season, trading for former All-star Dwight Howard and drafting Malik Monk and Frank Jackson. They sent Jackson to New Orleans for Dwayne Bacon. Ramon Sessions signed with the New York Knicks, and they added Michael Carter-Williams from the Chicago Bulls.

In the 2017–18 season, Kemba Walker was selected for his second NBA All-Star appearance and passed Dell Curry for most three-pointers and became the all-time leading scorer. At the end of the season, the Hornets did not renew general manager Rich Cho's contract. Mitch Kupchak was named new president of basketball operations and general manager. On April 13, 2018, the Hornets fired head coach Steve Clifford after five seasons and named James Borrego his replacement on May 10.

On July 23, 2018, Tony Parker signed with the Hornets after 17 years with the San Antonio Spurs. In January 2019, Kemba Walker was named an All-Star Game starter for the Eastern Conference, his first starting role and his third All-Star appearance with the Hornets. During the 2018–19 season, Charlotte finished with a 39–43 record, 2nd in their division and 9th in the Eastern Conference.

On June 20, 2019, the Hornets chose P. J. Washington with the twelfth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

On July 6, 2019, Kemba Walker joined the Boston Celtics through a sign-and-trade deal with the Hornets.

2020–present: The LaMelo Ball era

On November 18, 2020, the Hornets chose LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick. They also drafted Vernon Carey Jr. and Grant Riller in the second round of the 2020 NBA draft. On November 29, 2020, they acquired Gordon Hayward in a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics. They finished the 2020–21 season 10th in the East with a 33–39 record. On June 16, 2021, Ball was named 2020–21 NBA Rookie of the Year, the third player in franchise history to win the award.

On February 7, 2022, Ball was named to his first NBA All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Kevin Durant. The Hornets made the play-in tournament for the second consecutive time but lost to the Atlanta Hawks 132–103. On April 22, 2022, the Hornets fired head coach James Borrego after four seasons. They finished the 2021–2022 season with a 43–39 record.

On June 24, 2022, the Hornets named Steve Clifford as new head coach for his second stint. During the off-season, they drafted Mark Williams with the 15th pick and signed free agent point guard Dennis Smith Jr..

In the 2022–23 NBA season, the Hornets faced injuries to many players, finishing with a 27–55 record, the fourth worst in the league. Lamelo Ball played only 36 games. However, Mark Williams showed great potential.

With their poor finish, the Hornets won the second overall pick and chose Brandon Miller in the 2023 NBA draft.

On June 16, 2023, Jordan sold his majority stake to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. The sale, for $3 billion, was approved by the NBA on July 23, 2023.

On April 3, 2024, Steve Clifford announced he would step into an advisor role after a 21–61 season. He was the Hornets' all-time winningest coach. On May 9, 2024, Celtics assistant Charles Lee was named his successor to a 4-year deal.

Brandon Miller had a successful rookie season, averaging 17 points per game and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. Lamelo Ball struggled with injuries, playing only 22 games. Mark Williams also played only 19 games. Terry Rozier was traded to Miami for a pick and veteran guard Kyle Lowry. They also acquired Grant Williams from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for PJ Washington. Gordon Hayward was also traded. After the season, Kemba Walker was hired as a player enhancement coach.

Rivalries

The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets both joined the NBA in 1988, so they are called "expansion sisters." Miami has often been stronger, but their games are always exciting because they are in the same division.

The Charlotte Hornets also have a strong rivalry with the Detroit Pistons. Their games have been very competitive and full of energy over the years.

Logos and uniforms

Logos

The Hornets' logo shows a teal and purple hornet wearing white shoes and gloves, dribbling an orange basketball. The words 'Charlotte Hornets' curve across the top and bottom of the logo. An alternate logo from the 1988–89 season had a large teal letter 'C' with 'Charlotte' written in black letters underneath. Inside the 'C' was a smaller white letter 'H' with a black hornet holding a basketball in the center.

The Bobcats' logo from 2004 to 2012 showed a snarling orange bobcat facing right with the name 'Bobcats' above it in silver on a blue background, and 'Charlotte' written above in blue as well. In 2007, the colors became less bright but kept the same look. In 2012, the bobcat turned gray, the blue background extended up to the 'Charlotte' name, which changed from blue to orange, and a Carolina blue outline was added around the logo. A secondary logo from 2007 showed a snarling bobcat head facing forward with one side shaded orange and the other blue. A silver basketball was placed behind the head, all inside an orange-blue-gray circle. In 2012, the colors changed, with gray and Carolina blue replacing orange on the head and circle outline, and the basketball turned orange.

Charlotte's second Hornets logo shows a teal and purple hornet facing forward with the words 'Charlotte Hornets' on its body. Wings rise above the head on both sides, with teal and purple details. The hornet's stinger is shown clearly, with a basketball pattern above it. Gray outlines the whole logo. Other secondary logos include a hornet arched in a 'C' shape representing the city of Charlotte, and a modified version of the original Hornets logo without the basketball.

Uniforms

Original Hornets

The original Hornets uniforms were designed by North Carolina designer Alexander Julian. The team chose teal and purple as its main colors and added pinstripes, which was new for NBA uniforms at the time. While most teams put the team name on home jerseys and the city name on away jerseys, the Hornets put "Charlotte" on both home and away jerseys. Home uniforms were white with pinstripes in teal, green, blue, and purple, while away jerseys were teal with pinstripes in white, green, blue, and purple.

In 1994, the Hornets introduced a purple alternate uniform with pinstripes in white, green, blue, and teal. From 1997 to 2002, the uniforms changed slightly. A tricolor of teal, purple, and blue appeared on the beltline and piping.

Bobcats

The Bobcats' first home jerseys were white with "Bobcats" in orange and blue and black trimming. The main away jersey was orange with "Charlotte" in white and blue and black trimming. In the 2006 off-season, the Bobcats announced a new alternate away jersey for the 2006–07 season. This jersey was blue with "Bobcats" in white and black, orange, and white trimming. Racing Day blue alternates honored Charlotte's NASCAR fans.

For the 2009–10 season, the Bobcats redesigned their uniforms, mixing features from both Hornets and Bobcats styles. The home uniforms were white with an arched "Bobcats" in blue and orange and white trim. Road uniforms were blue with an arched "Charlotte" in white and blue and orange trim. Both had silver pinstripes like the Hornets' old uniforms. The NASCAR uniform also got pinstripes. In the 2011–12 season, the Bobcats wore their home uniforms on NASCAR night with a racing flag patch.

The Bobcats introduced new uniforms on June 19, 2012, with less orange. The white home uniforms had the shorter nickname 'Cats' in navy and Carolina blue trim, with numbers in Carolina blue and navy trim and navy side stripes. The navy away uniforms had 'Charlotte' in white and Carolina blue trim, with the same trim on the numbers and Carolina blue side stripes. Both uniforms had pinstripes on the sides. The addition of Carolina blue connected to owner Michael Jordan's college roots, and using 'Cats' reflected a popular nickname.

Revived Hornets

The newly named Hornets showed their uniforms on June 19, 2014. These included white home and purple road uniforms with the "Hornets" name across the chest. They also showed a teal alternate uniform with the "Charlotte" name across the chest, planned to be used 16–20 times per season.

On June 25, 2015, the Hornets showed a black sleeved alternate uniform with their "Buzz City" nickname. The team wore this for up to six games in the 2015–16 NBA season and some games in the 2016 NBA playoffs.

For the 2017–18 season and beyond, the Hornets have been outfitted by Nike's Air Jordan brand. The white "Association" uniform and the teal "Icon" uniform have the "Hornets" name in front and a silhouetted hornet on the waistband. The purple "Statement" uniform is similar but has the "Charlotte" name in front.

The Hornets changed their purple "Statement" uniforms before the 2019–20 season. The front now had the "CHA" acronym in bold white letters with teal trim, and teal "stinger" stripes were added to the sides. The silhouetted Hornets logo moved to the sides of the shorts, and the partial logo went on the beltline.

On August 31, 2020, the Hornets showed new uniforms with double pinstriped jerseys inspired by those worn from 1997 to 2002. These are the first Hornets regular jerseys to include pinstripes since the Bobcats wore them from 2009 to 2012.

Before the 2022–23 season, the Hornets made small changes to the purple "Statement" uniform. It brought back the "Hornets" name in front with white numbers and teal cell accents on each side. The "C" alternate logo was added to the beltline, and the alternate "curled hornet" logo was placed below the teal cells on the shorts.

The Hornets' "City" uniforms updated Adidas' sleeved "Buzz City" uniforms. The 2017–18 version had black letters with white trim on a black base and sides with a hornet's wing pattern. The 2018–19 version had teal lettering and a new logo like the original Air Jordan "Wings" logo.

The "City" uniform for the 2019–20 season moved away from "Buzz City" to a cool grey base, purple, teal, and black piping, with the "CHA" acronym in purple and white numbers with purple trim. A cell pattern was on the sides.

Charlotte's "City" uniform for the 2020–21 season honored the city's history as the first to house a U.S. Branch Mint and the Carolina Gold Rush. The base color is mint with letters and numbers in granite black with metallic gold trim. Pinstripes are in gold. It brought back the "Buzz City" crest in front. This theme returned in the 2022–23 "City" uniform, now in granite black with "CLT" in gold with mint trim. Pinstripes alternate between gold and mint.

For the 2021–22 season, the Hornets' "City" uniform mixed elements from past identities. The cursive "Charlotte" wordmark was inspired by banners from the team's 1988 uniform unveiling. The number placement on the left chest reminded of the Bobcats' original uniforms. Purple cells recalled the court design at the Charlotte Coliseum, and teal gradient had pinstripes like uniforms from 1988 to 1997. The original "Hugo" logo was on the left leg, and the script "Hornets" wordmark was added to the right leg. Along the jock tag, the Hornets added the "EST. 1988" sign for the team's first year.

In the 2023–24 season, the Hornets mixed "Buzz City" and Charlotte Mint themes for their "City" uniform. The design had a teal base with gold trim and mint side panels, with "Buzz City" in white with gold trim. The mint theme returned in the 2024–25 "City" uniform, using the white "Association" uniform as a base.

For the 2025–26 "City" uniform, the Hornets brought back the "mix-tape" design from the 2021–22 season but with a yellow and orange gradient inspired by the Bird of Paradise flower that once fascinated Queen Charlotte.

The "Classic" edition revived the original Hornets pinstriped uniforms in the current Nike template. The teal version was used in the 2017–18 season, followed by a white version in 2018–19. For 2019–20, the Hornets wore purple versions to mark the 25th anniversary of the uniform's debut. For the 35th anniversary in 2023–24, they wore throwback double pinstriped teal uniforms with purple side stripes from 1997 to 2002, though the Classic Edition court was not used with this uniform.

Season-by-season record

This section shows the last five seasons the Hornets have played. For the full history, see List of Charlotte Hornets seasons.

Arenas

The Charlotte Hornets first played at the Charlotte Coliseum. Fans called it "The Hive." It had many seats and was the biggest basketball arena in the league.

Today, the Hornets play at the Spectrum Center. It was first called Charlotte Bobcats Arena and later Time Warner Cable Arena before getting its current name in 2016. The team practices at the Novant Health Training Center inside this arena.

Personnel

See also: Charlotte Hornets draft history, Charlotte Hornets all-time roster, and Category:Charlotte Hornets players

Current roster

Retained draft rights

The Hornets have rights to some players they drafted who are not playing for them now. These players might be playing in college or in other countries. The Hornets keep these rights for one year after the player's current contract ends. This can happen when the Hornets got these rights from other teams by trading.

Head coaches

Main article: List of Charlotte Hornets head coaches

The Charlotte Hornets have had many head coaches. These coaches help guide the players and make important decisions during games. You can see a list of all the head coaches who have worked with the team in the article linked above.

Franchise records, awards and honors

See also: Charlotte Hornets accomplishments and records and List of Charlotte Hornets seasons

Franchise leaders

Bold shows players who are still with the team. Italic shows players who are still playing but not with the team.

Points scored (regular season) as of the end of the 2025–26 season

1. Kemba Walker (12,009)
2. Dell Curry (9,839)
3. Miles Bridges (7,956)
4. Gerald Wallace (7,437)
5. Larry Johnson (7,405)
6. LaMelo Ball (6,304)
7. Terry Rozier (5,974)
8. Glen Rice (5,651)
9. Muggsy Bogues (5,531)
10. Raymond Felton (5,311)
11. David Wesley (5,241)
12. Gerald Henderson Jr. (4,701)
13. Emeka Okafor (4,630)
14. Alonzo Mourning (4,569)
15. Kendall Gill (4,159)
16. Marvin Williams (4,149)
17. Cody Zeller (4,062)
18. P. J. Washington (3,946)
19. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (3,738)
20. Nicolas Batum (3,728)

Other statistics (regular season) as of the end of the 2025–26 season

Individual awards

All-Rookie First Team

• Kendall Gill – 1991
• Larry Johnson – 1992
• Alonzo Mourning – 1993
• Emeka Okafor – 2005
• LaMelo Ball – 2021
• Brandon Miller – 2024

All-Rookie Second Team

• Rex Chapman – 1989
• J. R. Reid – 1990
• Raymond Felton – 2006
• Adam Morrison – 2007
• Walter Herrmann – 2007
• D. J. Augustin – 2009
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – 2013
• Cody Zeller – 2014
• P. J. Washington – 2020

All-NBA Second Team

• Larry Johnson – 1993
• Glen Rice – 1997

All-NBA Third Team

• Anthony Mason – 1997
• Glen Rice – 1998
• Eddie Jones – 2000
• Al Jefferson – 2014
• Kemba Walker – 2019

All-Defensive First Team

• Gerald Wallace – 2010

All-Defensive Second Team

• Anthony Mason – 1997
• Eddie Jones – 1999, 2000
• P. J. Brown – 2001

Rookie of the Year

• Larry Johnson – 1992
• Emeka Okafor – 2005
• LaMelo Ball – 2021

Sixth Man of the Year

• Dell Curry – 1994

Executive of the Year

• Bob Bass – 1997

NBA All-Star Weekend

All-Star Selections

• Larry Johnson – (/wiki/1993_NBA_All-Star_Game), (/wiki/1995_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• Alonzo Mourning – (/wiki/1994_NBA_All-Star_Game), (/wiki/1995_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• Glen Rice – (/wiki/1996_NBA_All-Star_Game), (/wiki/1997_NBA_All-Star_Game), (/wiki/1998_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• Eddie Jones – (/wiki/2000_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• Baron Davis – (/wiki/2002_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• Gerald Wallace – (/wiki/2010_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• Kemba Walker – (/wiki/2017_NBA_All-Star_Game), (/wiki/2018_NBA_All-Star_Game), (/wiki/2019_NBA_All-Star_Game)
• LaMelo Ball – (/wiki/2022_NBA_All-Star_Game)

All-Star Most Valuable Player

• Glen Rice – (/wiki/1997_NBA_All-Star_Game)

Retired numbers

• The Charlotte Hornets honored a player's number on February 9, 2000, after he passed away. His jersey was shown in different arenas but returned to Charlotte in 2014, where it is honored today.
• The NBA honored a special number for all its teams on August 11, 2022.
• The Charlotte Hornets honored Dell Curry's number on March 19, 2026.

Basketball Hall of Famers

FIBA Hall of Famers

Mascot and cheerleaders

Hugo The Hornet is the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets. He came back in 2014 when the team got its old name again. Before Hugo, the team had a mascot named Rufus D. Lynx. He was popular and even set a world record with basketball tricks.

The Charlotte Hornets have cheerleaders called the Charlotte Honey Bees. They dance during games and help the team's spirit at events and community activities. When the team was called the Bobcats, their cheerleaders had a different name, the Lady Cats.

Media coverage

Main article: List of Charlotte Hornets broadcasters

The Charlotte Hornets have had many ways for fans to watch and listen to their games over the years. In the beginning, from 1988 to 1992, most games were shown on local TV stations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, led by WCCB in Charlotte. Later, some games were shown on Sport-South, which later became Bally Sports South.

In 2004, when the team returned as the Bobcats, a new TV channel called Carolinas Sports Entertainment Television (C-SET) was made to show games. But not everyone could see it because it was only on digital cable. After C-SET closed, games moved to News 14 Carolina, but again, many people still couldn’t watch.

Later, the Bobcats made a deal with Fox Sports South to show games, which helped more fans watch. Today, Hornets games are shown on Bally Sports Southeast, with Eric Collins and Dell Curry doing the commentary.

Radio broadcasts have also been important. The team’s current radio home is all-sports station WFNZ-FM. Before that, games were on other stations like WBT during the team’s original run.