History of the Charlotte Hornets

The history of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets began in 1985 when founder George Shinn wanted to bring professional basketball to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets started playing as an expansion team in 1988. After fourteen seasons, the team stopped playing in 2002 when Shinn moved the team to New Orleans.

Later, the team was bought back and renamed the Bobcats by Robert L. Johnson. The Bobcats began playing again in 2004 after getting new players. In 2010, Michael Jordan, a famous basketball player from North Carolina, bought the team. Jordan changed the team's name back to the Hornets in 2014. In 2023, Jordan sold the team to a group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin.

1988–2002: The original Charlotte Hornets

1985–1988: The NBA comes to Charlotte

In 1985, the NBA wanted to grow by adding four new teams by the 1988–89 season. George Shinn, a businessman from Kannapolis, North Carolina, wanted to bring an NBA team to Charlotte. Charlotte was known for its love of college basketball and was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Some people doubted Charlotte could support an NBA team, but Shinn had a plan. He showed them the Charlotte Coliseum, a new arena that could hold almost 24,000 fans. In April 1987, NBA Commissioner David Stern awarded Charlotte the 24th NBA franchise, which would start playing in 1988. The team was named the Hornets, inspired by Charlotte’s strong spirit during the Revolutionary War. The team chose teal as its main color, which became popular in sports fashion.

Shinn hired Carl Scheer as the team’s first general manager. Scheer aimed to build a competitive team quickly, hoping to reach the playoffs within five years. Dick Harter was hired as the first head coach. In 1988, the Hornets joined the NBA along with the Miami Heat in an expansion draft. Unlike other new teams that focused on young players, the Hornets added experienced players to compete right away.

1988–1992: Early seasons

In their first season, the Hornets were led by Kelly Tripucka, who was the team’s top scorer. Other important players included Rex Chapman and Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history. The Hornets played their first game on November 4, 1988, and won their first game a few days later. Despite finishing with a record of 20 wins and 62 losses, the team was very popular, leading the NBA in attendance.

The second season was harder. The team started with five losses and changed coaches midway through the season. They finished with a record of 19 wins and 63 losses. In the 1990 draft, the Hornets picked Kendall Gill. The team improved in the 1990–91 season but still missed the playoffs, finishing with a 26–56 record.

1992–1995: Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning era

In the 1991 draft, the Hornets chose Larry Johnson, who became a star right away. The next year, they drafted Alonzo Mourning. With Johnson and Mourning, the team had its first winning season and made the playoffs for the first time, beating the Boston Celtics in the first round. However, they lost in the next round.

In the 1993–94 season, the Hornets missed the playoffs but returned the next year with 50 wins. They made the playoffs again but lost in the first round to the Chicago Bulls.

1995–1998: Glen Rice era

The Hornets traded Mourning for Glen Rice, who became a top scorer. In the 1995–96 season, the team didn’t make the playoffs. The next season, they traded for Vlade Divac and had their best season so far, with 54 wins and a return to the playoffs. Rice had an amazing season, finishing third in scoring and being named All-Star Game MVP.

In the 1997–98 season, the Hornets again made the playoffs, finishing with 51 wins. They reached the second round but were stopped by the Bulls again.

1998–2002: Final years of the original Hornets

The 1998–99 season was shorter due to a lockout. Glen Rice was traded, and the team didn’t make the playoffs. The next season, they returned to the playoffs with point guard Baron Davis but lost in the first round. Tragically, a popular player, Bobby Phills, died in a car accident during this season.

In the 2000–01 season, the Hornets made the playoffs again but lost in the conference semifinals. The following season, they made the playoffs once more but lost in the conference semifinals. The team’s popularity declined, partly due to disputes between the owner, George Shinn, and fans. Attendance dropped significantly.

2002–2003: Relocation to New Orleans

The Hornets’ popularity waned in the late 1990s and early 2000s, partly because of issues with the team’s owner, George Shinn. Fans were unhappy with his decisions, and attendance fell. Shinn wanted a new arena but couldn’t agree with the city. Eventually, the NBA approved the team’s move to New Orleans after the 2001–02 season. The NBA also promised Charlotte a new expansion team in the future.

2004–2014: Charlotte Bobcats

2003: Establishing the Bobcats

Before the team moved from New Orleans, the NBA wanted to add another team to balance its groups. They thought Charlotte would be a good place for this new team if they could agree on a home arena. Different groups tried to get this chance, including one led by a famous basketball player, Larry Bird. Finally, a group led by Robert L. Johnson got the rights to start the team, making him the first African American main owner of a big sports team in the United States. A rapper named Nelly also joined as a smaller owner.

In June 2003, the team chose the name Bobcats after asking fans for ideas. They picked "Bobcats" from many suggestions during a big fan event. The bobcat is a wild cat that lives in North Carolina, and the team made a special logo to be different from another local team, the Carolina Panthers.

The Bobcats got their first coach and started building a new arena. They played their early games in an older arena while waiting for the new one to be ready.

2004–2008: The beginning of the Bobcats

The Bobcats started their first season in 2004, picking new players and getting ready for games. Their first game was exciting but they lost. They had many tough times in their first years, but they kept trying. They built a new arena and got famous basketball player Michael Jordan to join the team as a part owner and leader of basketball decisions.

2008–2010: Larry Brown era

In 2008, they hired Larry Brown as their new coach. They made some changes with players and almost made it to the playoffs but just missed out. The team faced some hard times with scheduling and other issues.

2009–2012: Playoffs, new ownership, and struggles

The team made it to the playoffs for the first time in 2010 under new owner Michael Jordan. But they lost their first playoff games. Later years were very hard for the team, with many losses and changes in coaches and players.

2012–2014: Final years as the Bobcats

In 2013, the team asked to change its name back to the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA agreed, and in 2014, the Bobcats became the Hornets again. They finished their last season as the Bobcats with many wins and made it to the playoffs one more time before becoming the Hornets.

2014–present: Return of the Hornets

On May 20, 2014, the Charlotte Bobcats became the new Charlotte Hornets. Team leaders said the Hornets would keep the history and records from 1988 to 2002. All Hornets records from 2002 to 2013 stayed with the team in New Orleans.

In the 2014 NBA draft, the Hornets chose Noah Vonleh with the 9th pick. They also picked Shabazz Napier, Dwight Powell, and Semaj Christon. Several players were traded during this time.

In the 2014-15 season, the Hornets finished with a 33–49 record.

After a tough first season, the Hornets added players like Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lin, Jeremy Lamb, Tyler Hansbrough, Spencer Hawes, and Aaron Harrison. In the 2015 NBA draft, they chose Frank Kaminsky with the 9th pick. The Hornets improved and made the playoffs in the 2015-16 season, finishing with a 48–34 record. They faced the Miami Heat in the first round but lost in seven games.

The next season, some players left, but the Hornets added Roy Hibbert, Marco Belinelli, and Ramon Sessions. Kemba Walker was named an All-star for the first time. The team finished with a 36–46 record and did not make the playoffs.

In the 2017 NBA draft, the Hornets chose Malik Monk. They also traded for Dwight Howard. Kemba Walker broke the team’s record for three-pointers made and became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. The Hornets finished the season with a 36–46 record and missed the playoffs again. Steve Clifford left as coach, and James Borrego became the new head coach.

The next season marked the Hornets’ 30th year in the NBA. Muggsy Bogues joined Dell Curry as a team ambassador. Charlotte was chosen to host the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

Before the 2018 NBA draft, the Hornets traded Dwight Howard. They picked Miles Bridges, Devonte Graham, and Arnoldas Kulboka. Tony Parker joined the team as a free agent. Kemba Walker was named a starter for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, the third Hornets player to start the All-Star Game. The Hornets missed the playoffs for the third straight year. Tony Parker retired after 18 seasons.

In the 2019 NBA draft, the Hornets chose P. J. Washington, Cody Martin, and Jalen McDaniels. Kemba Walker was traded to the Boston Celtics, ending his time with the Hornets.

The 2019-20 season began with a win but included an eight-game losing streak. On March 11, the NBA stopped the season because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Hornets were not invited to play in the special NBA games later that year.

In the 2020 NBA draft, the Hornets chose LaMelo Ball with the 3rd pick. They also picked Vernon Carey Jr. and Grant Riller, and got Nick Richards from another team. The Hornets ended the 2020-21 season with a 33-39 record and played in the NBA play-in tournament but lost. LaMelo Ball was named Rookie of the Year.

In the 2021 NBA draft, the Hornets chose James Bouknight and Scottie Lewis. Kelly Oubre Jr. joined the team. The 2022-23 season was difficult because of many injuries, and the team finished with a 27–55 record. Mark Williams showed a lot of promise.

The Hornets got the second pick in the 2023 NBA draft and chose Brandon Miller.

On June 16, 2023, Michael Jordan announced he would sell his majority share in the team. The sale was approved on July 23, 2023.

In the 2024 NBA draft, the Hornets chose Tidjane Salaün and KJ Simpson.