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1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season

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 overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Kobe Bryant,[2][3][4][5][6] but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac,[7][8][9][10][11] acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks,[12][13][14][15] and signed free agent Tony Smith during the off-season.[16] The team also hired former Boston Celtics star Dave Cowens as their new head coach.[17][18][19]

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 >

Under Cowens, and with the addition of Divac and Mason, 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.[20] At midseason, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Tom Chambers in January,[21][22][23] then traded Scott Burrell to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Donald Royal, and dealt second-year guard Anthony Goldwire, and second-year center George Zidek to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ricky Pierce in February.[24][25][26][27] However, Chambers was released to free agency after 12 games. 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.[28]

Glen Rice had the best season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring with a career-high of 26.8 points per game, while leading the Hornets with 207 three-point field goals, and shooting .470 in three-point percentage; he earned All-NBA Second Team honors, and finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting.[29][30][31] Rice was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game,[32][33] where he set several scoring records and was selected the game's MVP.[34][35][36][37][38] 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 a back injury.[39][40] Sixth man Dell Curry contributed 14.8 points per game off the bench, while Muggsy Bogues provided with 8.0 points, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and Smith contributed 5.0 points per game.[41] Curry also finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[42][30][31] and Cowens finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.[43][44][45][30]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hornets were swept by the New York Knicks in three straight games.[46][47][48][49] The Hornets led the NBA in home-game 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.[50] Following the season, Pierce re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks during the next season,[51][52][53][54] and Smith and Royal were both released to free agency.

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.[55]

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool
113Kobe BryantSG  United StatesLower Merion HS
116Tony DelkSG/PG  United StatesKentucky
244Malik RosePF  United StatesDrexel

Roster

1996–97 Charlotte Hornets roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
F7Addison, Rafael6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1964–07–22Syracuse
G1Bogues, Muggsy5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)136 lb (62 kg)1965–01–09Wake Forest
G30Curry, Dell6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg)1964–06–25Virginia Tech
G00Delk, Tony6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)189 lb (86 kg)1974–01–28Kentucky
C12Divac, Vlade7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)243 lb (110 kg)1968–02–03Yugoslavia
C52Geiger, Matt7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)243 lb (110 kg)1969–09–10Georgia Tech
F14Mason, Anthony6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (113 kg)1966–12–14Tennessee State
G21Pierce, Ricky6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)1959–08–19Rice
F41Rice, Glen6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1967–05–28Michigan
F31Rose, Malik6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (113 kg)1974–11–23Drexel
F5Royal, Donald6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)1966–05–22Notre Dame
G34Smith, Tony6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)1968–06–14Marquette
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 20, 1997

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls6913.841–39–230–1124–4
x-Atlanta Hawks5626.6831336–520–2117–11
x-Detroit Pistons5428.6591530–1124–1717–11
x-Charlotte Hornets5428.6591530–1124–1714–14
Cleveland Cavaliers4240.5122725–1617–2413–15
Indiana Pacers3943.4763021–2018–2311–17
Milwaukee Bucks3349.4023620–2113–2810–18
Toronto Raptors3052.3663918–2312–296–22
1996–97 NBA East standings
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Chicago Bulls6913.841–
2y-Miami Heat6121.7448
3x-New York Knicks5725.69512
4x-Atlanta Hawks5626.68313
5x-Detroit Pistons5428.65915
6x-Charlotte Hornets5428.65915
7x-Orlando Magic4537.54924
8x-Washington Bullets4438.53725
9Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51227
10Indiana Pacers3943.47630
11Milwaukee Bucks3349.40236
12Toronto Raptors3052.36639
13New Jersey Nets2656.31743
14Philadelphia 76ers2260.26847
15Boston Celtics1567.18354

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta—3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston1–3—0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte3–14–0—0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago3–14–04–0—3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland1–32–11–31–3—2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas0–21–11–10–20–2—3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver1–11–10–20–21–11–3—0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0—2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2—0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0—1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1—2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2—2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2—1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1—4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4—0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0—2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2—2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2—3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3—2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2—1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1—1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1—2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2—3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3—0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0—2–01–34–02–0
Toronto0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2—1–11–12–2
Utah1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1—4–02–0
Vancouver0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4—1–1
Washington1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

Game log

Regular season

1996–97 game log
Total: 54–28 (home: 30–11; road: 24–17)
November: 8–6 (home: 5–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1November 2, 1996TorontoW 109–98Charlotte Coliseum1–0
2November 3, 1996@ New YorkL 86–113Madison Square Garden1–1
3November 6, 1996L.A. LakersW 88–78Charlotte Coliseum2–1
4November 8, 1996@ WashingtonW 102–87US Airways Arena3–1
5November 9, 1996MilwaukeeL 98–100Charlotte Coliseum3–2
6November 12, 1996@ MiamiL 72–93Miami Arena3–3
7November 14, 1996@ OrlandoL 89–96Orlando Arena3–4
8November 15, 1996ChicagoL 87–110Charlotte Coliseum3–5
9November 20, 1996New YorkW 93–86Charlotte Coliseum4–5
10November 21, 1996@ IndianaW 90–87Market Square Arena5–5
11November 23, 1996DetroitW 93–85Charlotte Coliseum6–5
12November 26, 1996SeattleW 97–89Charlotte Coliseum7–5
13November 27, 1996@ TorontoL 88–92SkyDome7–6
14November 30, 1996@ MilwaukeeW 94–87Bradley Center8–6
December: 8–7 (home: 3–2; road: 5–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
15December 2, 1996@ UtahL 97–107Delta Center8–7
16December 3, 1996@ L.A. ClippersL 89–96Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena8–8
17December 6, 1996@ PortlandL 93–97Rose Garden Arena8–9
18December 7, 1996@ SeattleW 94–92KeyArena9–9
19December 9, 1996@ VancouverW 107–91General Motors Place10–9
20December 11, 1996DenverW 101–97Charlotte Coliseum11–9
21December 13, 1996PhiladelphiaW 84–75Charlotte Coliseum12–9
22December 14, 1996@ ChicagoL 82–87United Center12–10
23December 17, 1996@ PhiladelphiaW 93–84CoreStates Center13–10
24December 19, 1996ChicagoL 72–93Charlotte Coliseum13–11
25December 21, 1996AtlantaW 98–93Charlotte Coliseum14–11
26December 22, 1996@ BostonW 102–98FleetCenter15–11
27December 27, 1996MiamiL 86–101Charlotte Coliseum15–12
28December 28, 1996@ DetroitL 75–97The Palace of Auburn Hills15–13
29December 30, 1996@ WashingtonW 101–92US Airways Arena16–13
January: 10–6 (home: 5–2; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
30January 2, 1997DallasW 107–97Charlotte Coliseum17–13
31January 4, 1997WashingtonL 93–104Charlotte Coliseum17–14
32January 6, 1997@ Golden StateW 109–101San Jose Arena18–14
33January 8, 1997@ L.A. LakersL 97–101Great Western Forum18–15
34January 10, 1997@ PhoenixL 90–102America West Arena18–16
35January 12, 1997@ SacramentoW 97–93ARCO Arena19–16
36January 13, 1997@ DenverW 102–100 (OT)McNichols Sports Arena20–16
37January 15, 1997New JerseyW 116–104Charlotte Coliseum21–16
38January 18, 1997@ New JerseyW 102–92Continental Airlines Arena22–16
39January 20, 1997@ AtlantaL 97–106The Omni22–17
40January 21, 1997HoustonW 114–108Charlotte Coliseum23–17
41January 24, 1997New YorkW 113–104 (OT)Charlotte Coliseum24–17
42January 25, 1997@ ClevelandL 73–106Gund Arena24–18
43January 28, 1997@ IndianaW 98–97Market Square Arena25–18
44January 29, 1997IndianaL 95–106Charlotte Coliseum25–19
45January 31, 1997MilwaukeeW 102–95Charlotte Coliseum26–19
February: 10–3 (home: 6–1; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
46February 2, 1997@ New YorkW 99–93Madison Square Garden27–19
47February 4, 1997MinnesotaW 115–101Charlotte Coliseum28–19
48February 6, 1997SacramentoW 115–100Charlotte Coliseum29–19
All-Star Break
49February 11, 1997@ ChicagoL 100–103United Center29–20
50February 12, 1997New JerseyW 113–100Charlotte Coliseum30–20
51February 14, 1997DetroitL 103–109Charlotte Coliseum30–21
52February 17, 1997OrlandoW 124–110Charlotte Coliseum31–21
53February 19, 1997PhoenixW 123–115Charlotte Coliseum32–21
54February 21, 1997L.A. ClippersW 114–96Charlotte Coliseum33–21
55February 22, 1997@ AtlantaW 93–92The Omni34–21
56February 24, 1997@ San AntonioW 96–84Alamodome35–21
57February 25, 1997@ DallasL 84–86Reunion Arena35–22
58February 27, 1997@ HoustonW 106–95The Summit36–22
March: 9–4 (home: 6–3; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
59March 2, 1997@ MinnesotaW 108–96Target Center37–22
60March 4, 1997San AntonioW 105–98Charlotte Coliseum38–22
61March 6, 1997BostonW 122–121 (OT)Charlotte Coliseum39–22
62March 9, 1997MiamiW 82–76Charlotte Coliseum40–22
63March 11, 1997VancouverW 98–92Charlotte Coliseum41–22
64March 14, 1997@ OrlandoL 81–86Orlando Arena41–23
65March 15, 1997@ PhiladelphiaW 107–99CoreStates Center42–23
66March 17, 1997UtahL 93–114Charlotte Coliseum42–24
67March 19, 1997ClevelandW 90–72Charlotte Coliseum43–24
68March 21, 1997@ TorontoW 102–97SkyDome44–24
69March 22, 1997Golden StateW 100–93 (OT)Charlotte Coliseum45–24
70March 26, 1997PortlandL 87–88Charlotte Coliseum45–25
71March 28, 1997IndianaL 115–116Charlotte Coliseum45–26
April: 9–2 (home: 5–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
72April 2, 1997AtlantaW 95–84Charlotte Coliseum46–26
73April 3, 1997@ New JerseyW 93–87Continental Airlines Arena47–26
74April 5, 1997PhiladelphiaW 115–113Charlotte Coliseum48–26
75April 7, 1997@ ClevelandW 110–105 (OT)Gund Arena49–26
76April 9, 1997BostonW 136–111Charlotte Coliseum50–26
77April 11, 1997@ DetroitW 93–85The Palace of Auburn Hills51–26
78April 12, 1997WashingtonW 99–97Charlotte Coliseum52–26
79April 14, 1997ClevelandW 94–82Charlotte Coliseum53–26
80April 16, 1997@ BostonW 108–102FleetCenter54–26
81April 18, 1997TorontoL 100–108Charlotte Coliseum54–27
82April 20, 1997@ MilwaukeeL 100–120Bradley Center54–28
1996–97 schedule

Playoffs

1997 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 24, 1997@ New YorkL 99–109Vlade Divac (27)Anthony Mason (13)Anthony Mason (5)Madison Square Garden
19,763		0–1
2April 26, 1997@ New YorkL 93–100Glen Rice (39)Divac, Mason (12)four players tied (2)Madison Square Garden
19,763		0–2
3April 28, 1997New YorkL 95–104Glen Rice (22)Anthony Mason (11)Glen Rice (9)Charlotte Coliseum
24,042		0–3
1997 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Rafael Addison4138.7.402.400.7861.10.80.20.13.1
Muggsy Bogues656528.9.460.417.8442.27.21.30.08.0
Scott Burrell28217.2.344.345.7922.81.40.50.45.4
Tom Chambers1256.9.226.667.7501.20.30.10.01.6
Dell Curry682030.6.459.426.8033.11.70.90.214.8
Tony Delk61114.2.465.464.8241.61.60.60.15.4
Vlade Divac818035.1.494.234.6839.03.71.32.212.6
Jamie Feick303.3.5001.000.0001.00.00.00.31.7
Matt Geiger491321.3.489.300.7015.30.80.40.68.9
Anthony Goldwire33917.5.403.439.7501.22.80.60.05.8
Eric Leckner1011.0.0001.01.00.00.00.0
Anthony Mason737343.1.525.333.74511.45.71.00.516.2
Ricky Pierce271724.1.502.536.8892.51.80.50.112.0
Glen Rice797842.6.477.470.8674.02.00.90.326.8
Malik Rose5419.7.477.000.6133.00.60.50.33.0
Donald Royal25212.8.525.8002.30.40.50.12.8
Tony Smith693918.7.409.323.6441.42.20.70.35.0
George Zidek3628.0.388.000.7811.80.30.10.12.5

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Muggsy Bogues2229.0.579.8571.0001.52.50.50.016.0
Dell Curry3116.7.294.2501.0000.31.71.30.04.7
Tony Delk3128.3.419.3853.32.00.70.010.3
Vlade Divac3338.7.457.000.8008.73.31.02.018.0
Matt Geiger3010.3.6671.0002.70.70.70.32.0
Anthony Mason3343.7.421.53812.03.00.30.313.0
Ricky Pierce3229.0.458.1432.71.30.70.07.7
Glen Rice3345.7.491.375.9133.73.71.30.327.7
Malik Rose206.0.5002.50.50.00.02.0
Donald Royal104.0.0002.00.00.00.00.0
Tony Smith204.5.000.000.5000.51.00.50.00.5

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:[56]

References

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