1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Charlotte Hornets

| end_year = 1997

| wins = 54

| losses = 28

| division_place = 4

| division = Central

| conf_place = 6

| coach = Dave Cowens

| gm = Bob Bass

| owner = George Shinn

| arena = Charlotte Coliseum

| playoffs = First round
(lost to Knicks 0–3)

| bbr_team = CHH

| television =

| radio = WBT

}}

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 9th season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHH/1997.html 1996-97 Charlotte Hornets] For the first time since the 1990–91 season, Larry Johnson was not on the team's opening day roster. The Hornets had the thirteenth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Kobe Bryant,{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Big Trade and Some Twists in N.B.A. Youth Parade | work = The New York Times | date = June 27, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/27/sports/pro-basketball-big-trade-and-some-twists-in-nba-youth-parade.html | access-date = December 1, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = The Surprises Are Few | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 27, 1996 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-27-sp-22580-story.html | access-date = December 1, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Cotton | first = Anthony | title = For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 27, 1996 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/1996/nba/nbadraft.htm | access-date = July 25, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Bembry | first = Jerry | title = 76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second | work = The Baltimore Sun | date = June 27, 1996 | url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-06-27-1996179094-story.html | access-date = June 2, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1996 NBA Draft | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1996.html | access-date = December 1, 2022}} but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac,{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Kiss Vlade Goodbye? | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 27, 1996 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-27-sp-19097-story.html | access-date = December 1, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = PRO BASKETBALL; With the Draft Over, Trading Season Begins | work = The New York Times | date = June 28, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/28/sports/pro-basketball-with-the-draft-over-trading-season-begins.html | access-date = May 24, 2022}}{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Divac Agrees to a Trade with Charlotte | work = The New York Times | date = July 2, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/sports/sports-people-basketball-divac-agrees-to-a-trade-with-charlotte.html | access-date = June 20, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Divac-for-Bryant Deal Done, Freeing Money for O'Neal | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 12, 1996 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-12-sp-23543-story.html | access-date = July 25, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Lakers Trade Divac for Bryant | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = July 12, 1996 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/07/12/lakers-trade-divac-for-bryant/325d6351-26ac-4e73-b25d-70b381ba411c/ | access-date = December 1, 2022}} acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks,{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Pro Basketball; Knicks Chase Hornets' Johnson as N.B.A. Resumes Business | work = The New York Times | date = July 12, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/12/sports/pro-basketball-knicks-chase-hornets-johnson-as-nba-resumes-business.html | access-date = March 20, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Around the NBA | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = July 13, 1996 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/07/13/around-the-nba/70b36d3d-01c9-425a-acb9-898b3bf92784/ | access-date = June 20, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Payton Stays in Seattle, Knicks Get a Backcourt | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 15, 1996 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-15-sp-24361-story.html | access-date = July 10, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Sheridan | first = Chris | title = Knicks Acquire Larry Johnson, Sign Houston and Childs | work = Associated Press | date = July 15, 1996 | url = https://apnews.com/article/9dfbf65421881a5d42176bdaaf4d2368 | access-date = December 3, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220929003031/https://apnews.com/article/9dfbf65421881a5d42176bdaaf4d2368 | archive-date = September 29, 2022 | url-status = dead}} and signed free agent Tony Smith during the off-season.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Ex-Laker Smith Joins Hornets | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 21, 1996 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-21-sp-56289-story.html | accessdate = July 11, 2022}} The team also hired former Boston Celtics star Dave Cowens as their new head coach.{{cite news | title = Hornets Reportedly Set to Hire Cowens | publisher = United Press International | date = May 23, 1996 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/05/23/Hornets-reportedly-set-to-hire-Cowens/6057832824000/ | access-date = November 18, 2022}}{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Cowens Is Fired Up to Coach | work = The New York Times | date = May 29, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/29/sports/sports-people-basketball-cowens-is-fired-up-to-coach.html | access-date = January 1, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Cowens to Coach Hornets | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 29, 1996 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/05/29/cowens-to-coach-hornets/07b2d9f0-71ff-4072-825b-103a469ba422/ | access-date = April 21, 2023}}

Under Cowens, and with the addition of Divac and Mason, the new-look Hornets played better than expected. After struggling with an 8–9 start to the regular season, the Hornets won 21 of their next 31 games, holding a 29–19 record at the All-Star break.{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=6&year=1997 | access-date = July 19, 2022}} At mid-season, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Tom Chambers in January,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Chambers in Comeback | work = The New York Times | date = January 31, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/31/sports/chambers-in-comeback.html | access-date = September 18, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Jordan Hints at Return Next Season | work = Los Angeles Times | date = January 31, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-31-sp-23963-story.html | access-date = October 3, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Switzer | first = Dennis | title = Chambers' Life of Leisure on Hold After Charlotte Comes A-Calling | work = Deseret News | date = January 31, 1997 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1997/1/31/19292457/chambers-life-of-leisure-on-hold-after-charlotte-comes-a-calling | access-date = January 8, 2023}} 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.{{cite news | last = Sheridan | first = Chris | title = Nuggets Made Three Trades, Hornets and Pacers Two Each | work = Associated Press | date = February 20, 1997 | url = https://apnews.com/article/08f00e6c260e7f7c5eff2a57f4d4464e | access-date = July 31, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Jackson Is Back with Pacers | work = The New York Times | date = February 21, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/21/sports/jackson-is-back-with-pacers.html | access-date = January 4, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Trading Deadline Becomes Much Ado About a Little | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 21, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-21-sp-30982-story.html | access-date = September 17, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Pacers Make Point in Reacquiring Jackson | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = February 21, 1997 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/02/21/pacers-make-point-in-reacquiring-jackson/0f6abc14-8570-4dae-aa01-8db81c54d166/ | access-date = June 21, 2023}} However, Chambers was released to free agency after 12 games. The Hornets posted a nine-game winning streak in April, and finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a franchise best record of 54–28, making it back to the playoffs after a one-year absence.{{cite web | title = 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHH/1997_games.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}}

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, and also earned All-NBA Second Team honors. 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.{{cite news | agency = Wire Reports | title = Hornets' Geiger Placed on Injured List Again, Because of Back Spasms | work = Greensboro | date = January 2, 1997 | url = https://greensboro.com/hornets-geiger-placed-on-injured-list-again-because-of-back/article_7080f918-8076-509e-9ac3-3f70f2677c19.html | access-date = November 5, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Hornets Shuffle Roster with Geiger Back | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 26, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-26-sp-32579-story.html | access-date = June 29, 2022}} 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.{{cite web | title = 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHH/1997.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}}

Rice was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio,{{cite news | last = Jorgensen | first = Loren | title = No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home | work = Deseret News | date = February 8, 1997 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1997/2/8/19293914/no-offense-but-malone-would-rather-be-home | access-date = April 19, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Fry | first = Darrell | title = On to the Next Stage | work = Tampa Bay Times | date = February 8, 1997 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/02/08/on-to-the-next-stage/ | access-date = December 28, 2022}} where he set several scoring records and was selected the game's MVP.{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = Rice Stages His Own Shootout in East's Victory | work = The New York Times | date = February 10, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/10/sports/rice-stages-his-own-shootout-in-east-s-victory.html | access-date = July 26, 2017}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = An All-Star Turns Into All-Timer | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 10, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-10-sp-27187-story.html | access-date = November 9, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = NBA.com Staff | title = 1997 NBA All-Star Recap | publisher = NBA.com | date = September 13, 2021 | url = https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1997 | access-date = May 16, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1997.html | access-date = November 27, 2021}}{{cite web | title = NBA & ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award Winners | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/all_star_mvp.html | access-date = November 29, 2022}} Rice finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Mason finished tied in ninth place;{{cite news | last = Kawakami | first = Tim | title = MVP: Malone, the Standout Jazz Forward Known as Mailman, Edges Jordan in the Voting to Earn Stamp of Greatness | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 19, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-19-sp-60282-story.html | access-date = September 24, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1996–97 Regular Season Award Winners | website = Eskimo North | url = https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/awards97.txt | access-date = June 10, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1996–97 NBA Awards Voting | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1997.html | access-date = January 2, 2022}} Rice also finished tied in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Curry finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Knicks' Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor | work = The Spokesman-Review | date = April 24, 1997 | url = https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/apr/24/knicks-starks-turns-demotion-into-honor/ | access-date = June 10, 2023}} and Cowens finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.{{cite news | agency = Tribune News Services | title = Trail Blazers Fire Too-Slow Carlesimo | work = Chicago Tribune | date = May 9, 1997 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-05-09-9705090084-story.html | access-date = January 2, 2023}}{{cite news | title = Riley Coach of Year; Sloan 3rd | work = Deseret News | date = May 9, 1997 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1997/5/9/19311801/riley-coach-of-year-sloan-3rd | access-date = January 2, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Bird Will Cut Coaching Teeth at Highest Level | work = The Spokesman-Review | date = May 9, 1997 | url = https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/may/09/bird-will-cut-coaching-teeth-at-highest-level/ | access-date = May 27, 2023}}

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hornets were swept by the New York Knicks in three straight games.{{cite news | last = Macenka | first = Joe | title = Knicks 104, Hornets 95 | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = April 28, 1997 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1997/playoffs/chany3.htm | access-date = May 30, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Knicks 104, Hornets 95 | publisher = United Press International | date = April 28, 1997 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/04/28/Knicks-104-Hornets-95/7854862200000/ | access-date = November 25, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = Knicks Sweep Away Hornets, and Season of Doubts | work = The New York Times | date = April 29, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/sports/knicks-sweep-away-hornets-and-season-of-doubts.html | access-date = July 3, 2021}}{{cite web | title = 1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Hornets vs. Knicks | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1997-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-hornets-vs-knicks.html | access-date = February 4, 2023}} The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the eighth, and final time during their history in Charlotte, with an attendance of 985,722 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season; they also had the best three-point percentage in NBA history, shooting 42.8% from beyond the arch.{{cite web | title = 1996–97 NBA Summary | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1997.html | access-date = October 22, 2021}}

Following the season, Pierce re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks during the next season,{{cite news | title = Transactions | work = The New York Times | date = December 5, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/05/sports/transactions-464007.html | access-date = October 7, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Nelson Replaces Cleamons | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 5, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-05-sp-61012-story.html | access-date = November 18, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Wire Reports | title = Mavs Respond to Change | work = The Spokesman-Review | date = December 5, 1997 | url = https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/dec/05/mavs-respond-to-change/ | access-date = November 12, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Watson | first = Phil | title = Milwaukee Bucks: 25 Best Players to Play for the Bucks | work = Hoops Habit | date = August 11, 2016 | url = https://hoopshabit.com/2016/08/11/milwaukee-bucks-25-best-players-play-bucks/amp/18/ | access-date = January 15, 2022}} 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.{{cite news | last = Wertz Jr. | first = Langston | title = Once Again, the Hornets Didn't Kick Kobe Bryant Out the Door in '96 | work = The Charlotte Observer | date = April 3, 2018 | url = https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article207804254.html | access-date = July 18, 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable" ! style="background:#048BA6; color:#323290" width="10%"\| Round ! style="background:#048BA6; color:#323290" width="10%"\| Pick ! style="background:#048BA6; color:#323290" width="20%"\| Player ! style="background:#048BA6; color:#323290" width="15%"\| Position ! style="background:#048BA6; color:#323290" width="15%"\| Nationality ! style="background:#048BA6; color:#323290" width="20%"\| School
style="text-align: center" \| 1	13	Kobe Bryant	SG	{{USA}}	Lower Merion HS
style="text-align: center" \| 1	16	Tony Delk	SG/PG	{{USA}}	Kentucky
style="text-align: center" \| 2	44	Malik Rose	PF	{{USA}}	Drexel

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Charlotte Hornets|season=1996–97

| bg1 = #048BA6 | color1 = #000000 | bg2 = #323290 | color2 = #FFFFFF

}}

{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Rafael | last = Addison | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1964–07–22 | college = Syracuse}}

{{player2 | num = 1 | first = Muggsy | last = Bogues | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 3 | lbs = 136 | DOB = 1965–01–09 | college = Wake Forest }}

{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Dell | last = Curry | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1964–06–25 | college = Virginia Tech}}

{{player2 | num = 00 | first = Tony | last = Delk | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 189 | DOB = 1974–01–28 | college = Kentucky}}

{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Vlade | last = Divac | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 1 | lbs = 243 | DOB = 1968–02–03 | from = Yugoslavia}}

{{player2 | num = 52 | first = Matt | last = Geiger | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 243 | DOB = 1969–09–10 | college = Georgia Tech}}

{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Anthony | last = Mason | dab = basketball | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 250 | DOB = 1966–12–14 | college = Tennessee State}}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Ricky | last = Pierce | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 205 | DOB = 1959–08–19 | college = Rice}}

{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Glen | last = Rice | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1967–05–28 | college = Michigan }}

{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Malik | last = Rose | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 250 | DOB = 1974–11–23 | college = Drexel}}

{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Donald | last = Royal | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1966–05–22 | college = Notre Dame}}

{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Tony | last = Smith | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 185 | DOB = 1968–06–14 | college = Marquette}}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

Dave Cowens

| asst_coach =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHH/1997.html

| accessdate = February 20, 1997

}}

=Roster Notes=

Power forward Tom Chambers was waived on April 8, 1997.

Regular season

=Season standings=

=Record vs. opponents=

colspan=30\|1996-97 NBA Records
class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
width=100\|Team !style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"\|ATL !style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"\|BOS !style="background:#008080;color:#800080;width=35"\|CHA !style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"\|CHI !style="background:#000000;color:#5787DC;width=35"\|CLE !style="background:#00008B;color:#008000;width=35"\|DAL !style="background:#141A44;color:#BC2224;width=35"\|DEN !style="background:#0C7674;color:#BB222C;width=35"\|DET !style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"\|GSW !style="background:#002366;color:#FF0000;width=35"\|HOU !style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"\|IND !style="background:#F9160D;color:#1A2E8B;width=35"\|LAC !style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"\|LAL !style="background:#000000;color:#8B0000;width=35"\|MIA !style="background:#00471B;color:#5C378A;width=35"\|MIL !style="background:#044D80;color:#000000;width=35"\|MIN !style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"\|NJN !style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"\|NYK !style="background:#0000FF;color:#000000;width=35"\|ORL !style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"\|PHI !style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"\|PHO !style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"\|POR !style="background:#6846A8;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"\|SAC !style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"\|SAS !style="background:#005831;color:#992634;width=35"\|SEA !style="background:#7436BF;color:#BE0F34;width=35"\|TOR !style="background:#644A9C;color:#149BC7;width=35"\|UTA !style="background:#0CB2AC;color:#000000;width=35"\|VAN !style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"\|WAS
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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
style="text-align:left;" \| 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

=Regular season=

{{NBA game log start|Charlotte Hornets|end_year=1997|bgcolor=#008080|color=#800080|record=Total: 54–28 (home: 30–11; road: 24–17)}}

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|November|first=yes|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080

| home_wins = 5

| home_losses = 2

| road_wins = 3

| road_losses = 4

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| November 2, 1996

| Toronto

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611020CHH.html W 109–98]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| November 3, 1996

| @ New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611030NYK.html L 86–113]

| Madison Square Garden

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| November 6, 1996

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611060CHH.html W 88–78]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| November 8, 1996

| @ Washington

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611080WSB.html W 102–87]

| US Airways Arena

| 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 5

| November 9, 1996

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611090CHH.html L 98–100]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 6

| November 12, 1996

| @ Miami

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611120MIA.html L 72–93]

| Miami Arena

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 7

| November 14, 1996

| @ Orlando

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611140ORL.html L 89–96]

| Orlando Arena

| 3–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 8

| November 15, 1996

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611150CHH.html L 87–110]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 3–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 9

| November 20, 1996

| New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611200CHH.html W 93–86]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 4–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 10

| November 21, 1996

| @ Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611210IND.html W 90–87]

| Market Square Arena

| 5–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 11

| November 23, 1996

| Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611230CHH.html W 93–85]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 6–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 12

| November 26, 1996

| Seattle

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611260CHH.html W 97–89]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 7–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 13

| November 27, 1996

| @ Toronto

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611270TOR.html L 88–92]

| SkyDome

| 7–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 14

| November 30, 1996

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611300MIL.html W 94–87]

| Bradley Center

| 8–6

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|December|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 2

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 5

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 15

| December 2, 1996

| @ Utah

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612020UTA.html L 97–107]

| Delta Center

| 8–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 16

| December 3, 1996

| @ L.A. Clippers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612030LAC.html L 89–96]

| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

| 8–8

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 17

| December 6, 1996

| @ Portland

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612060POR.html L 93–97]

| Rose Garden Arena

| 8–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 18

| December 7, 1996

| @ Seattle

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612070SEA.html W 94–92]

| KeyArena

| 9–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 19

| December 9, 1996

| @ Vancouver

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612090VAN.html W 107–91]

| General Motors Place

| 10–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 20

| December 11, 1996

| Denver

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612110CHH.html W 101–97]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 11–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 21

| December 13, 1996

| Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612130CHH.html W 84–75]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 12–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 22

| December 14, 1996

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612140CHI.html L 82–87]

| United Center

| 12–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 23

| December 17, 1996

| @ Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612170PHI.html W 93–84]

| CoreStates Center

| 13–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 24

| December 19, 1996

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612190CHH.html L 72–93]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 13–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 25

| December 21, 1996

| Atlanta

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612210CHH.html W 98–93]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 14–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 26

| December 22, 1996

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612220BOS.html W 102–98]

| FleetCenter

| 15–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 27

| December 27, 1996

| Miami

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612270CHH.html L 86–101]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 15–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 28

| December 28, 1996

| @ Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612280DET.html L 75–97]

| The Palace of Auburn Hills

| 15–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 29

| December 30, 1996

| @ Washington

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612300WSB.html W 101–92]

| US Airways Arena

| 16–13

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|January|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080

| home_wins = 5

| home_losses = 2

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 4

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 30

| January 2, 1997

| Dallas

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701020CHH.html W 107–97]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 17–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 31

| January 4, 1997

| Washington

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701040CHH.html L 93–104]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 17–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 32

| January 6, 1997

| @ Golden State

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701060GSW.html W 109–101]

| San Jose Arena

| 18–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 33

| January 8, 1997

| @ L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701080LAL.html L 97–101]

| Great Western Forum

| 18–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 34

| January 10, 1997

| @ Phoenix

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701100PHO.html L 90–102]

| America West Arena

| 18–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 35

| January 12, 1997

| @ Sacramento

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701120SAC.html W 97–93]

| ARCO Arena

| 19–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 36

| January 13, 1997

| @ Denver

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701130DEN.html W 102–100 (OT)]

| McNichols Sports Arena

| 20–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 37

| January 15, 1997

| New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701150CHH.html W 116–104]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 21–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 38

| January 18, 1997

| @ New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701180NJN.html W 102–92]

| Continental Airlines Arena

| 22–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 39

| January 20, 1997

| @ Atlanta

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701200ATL.html L 97–106]

| The Omni

| 22–17

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 40

| January 21, 1997

| Houston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701210CHH.html W 114–108]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 23–17

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 41

| January 24, 1997

| New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701240CHH.html W 113–104 (OT)]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 24–17

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 42

| January 25, 1997

| @ Cleveland

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701250CLE.html L 73–106]

| Gund Arena

| 24–18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 43

| January 28, 1997

| @ Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701280IND.html W 98–97]

| Market Square Arena

| 25–18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 44

| January 29, 1997

| Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701290CHH.html L 95–106]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 25–19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 45

| January 31, 1997

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701310CHH.html W 102–95]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 26–19

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|February|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 4

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 46

| February 2, 1997

| @ New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702020NYK.html W 99–93]

| Madison Square Garden

| 27–19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 47

| February 4, 1997

| Minnesota

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702040CHH.html W 115–101]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 28–19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 48

| February 6, 1997

| Sacramento

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702060CHH.html W 115–100]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 29–19

|- align="center"

|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break

|- style="background:#cfc;"

|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 49

| February 11, 1997

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702110CHI.html L 100–103]

| United Center

| 29–20

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 50

| February 12, 1997

| New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702120CHH.html W 113–100]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 30–20

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 51

| February 14, 1997

| Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702140CHH.html L 103–109]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 30–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 52

| February 17, 1997

| Orlando

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702170CHH.html W 124–110]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 31–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 53

| February 19, 1997

| Phoenix

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702190CHH.html W 123–115]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 32–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 54

| February 21, 1997

| L.A. Clippers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702210CHH.html W 114–96]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 33–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 55

| February 22, 1997

| @ Atlanta

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702220ATL.html W 93–92]

| The Omni

| 34–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 56

| February 24, 1997

| @ San Antonio

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702240SAS.html W 96–84]

| Alamodome

| 35–21

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 57

| February 25, 1997

| @ Dallas

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702250DAL.html L 84–86]

| Reunion Arena

| 35–22

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 58

| February 27, 1997

| @ Houston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199702270HOU.html W 106–95]

| The Summit

| 36–22

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|March|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 3

| road_wins = 3

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 59

| March 2, 1997

| @ Minnesota

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703020MIN.html W 108–96]

| Target Center

| 37–22

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 60

| March 4, 1997

| San Antonio

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703040CHH.html W 105–98]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 38–22

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 61

| March 6, 1997

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703060CHH.html W 122–121 (OT)]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 39–22

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 62

| March 9, 1997

| Miami

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703090CHH.html W 82–76]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 40–22

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 63

| March 11, 1997

| Vancouver

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703110CHH.html W 98–92]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 41–22

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 64

| March 14, 1997

| @ Orlando

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703140ORL.html L 81–86]

| Orlando Arena

| 41–23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 65

| March 15, 1997

| @ Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703150PHI.html W 107–99]

| CoreStates Center

| 42–23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 66

| March 17, 1997

| Utah

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703170CHH.html L 93–114]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 42–24

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 67

| March 19, 1997

| Cleveland

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703190CHH.html W 90–72]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 43–24

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 68

| March 21, 1997

| @ Toronto

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703210TOR.html W 102–97]

| SkyDome

| 44–24

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 69

| March 22, 1997

| Golden State

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703220CHH.html W 100–93 (OT)]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 45–24

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 70

| March 26, 1997

| Portland

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703260CHH.html L 87–88]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 45–25

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 71

| March 28, 1997

| Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199703280CHH.html L 115–116]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 45–26

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|April|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080

| home_wins = 5

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 4

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 72

| April 2, 1997

| Atlanta

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704020CHH.html W 95–84]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 46–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 73

| April 3, 1997

| @ New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704030NJN.html W 93–87]

| Continental Airlines Arena

| 47–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 74

| April 5, 1997

| Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704050CHH.html W 115–113]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 48–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 75

| April 7, 1997

| @ Cleveland

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704070CLE.html W 110–105 (OT)]

| Gund Arena

| 49–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 76

| April 9, 1997

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704090CHH.html W 136–111]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 50–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 77

| April 11, 1997

| @ Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704110DET.html W 93–85]

| The Palace of Auburn Hills

| 51–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 78

| April 12, 1997

| Washington

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704120CHH.html W 99–97]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 52–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 79

| April 14, 1997

| Cleveland

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704140CHH.html W 94–82]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 53–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 80

| April 16, 1997

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704160BOS.html W 108–102]

| FleetCenter

| 54–26

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 81

| April 18, 1997

| Toronto

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704180CHH.html L 100–108]

| Charlotte Coliseum

| 54–27

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 82

| April 20, 1997

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704200MIL.html L 100–120]

| Bradley Center

| 54–28

Playoffs

{{NBA game log start|Charlotte Hornets|bgcolor=#008080|color=#800080|playoffs=yes|end_year=1997}}

{{NBA game log section|Charlotte Hornets|bgcolor=#800080|color=#008080|First Round|first=yes|playoffs=yes

|home_wins = 0

|home_losses = 1

|road_wins = 0

|road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 1

| April 24, 1997

| @ New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704240NYK.html L 99–109]

| Vlade Divac (27)

| Anthony Mason (13)

| Anthony Mason (5)

| Madison Square Garden
19,763

| 0–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| April 26, 1997

| @ New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704260NYK.html L 93–100]

| Glen Rice (39)

| Divac, Mason (12)

| four players tied (2)

| Madison Square Garden
19,763

| 0–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| April 28, 1997

| New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199704280CHH.html L 95–104]

| Glen Rice (22)

| Anthony Mason (11)

| Glen Rice (9)

| Charlotte Coliseum
24,042

| 0–3

Player statistics

=Ragular season=

style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|Player ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| POS \| Position}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| GP \| Games played}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| GS \| Games starter}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| MP \| Minutes played}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| REB \| Rebounds}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| AST \| Assists}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| STL \| Steals}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| BLK \| Blocks}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| PTS \| Points}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| MPG \| Minutes per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| RPG \| Rebounds per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| APG \| Assists per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| SPG \| Steals per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| BPG \| Blocks per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| PPG \| Points per game}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:right;"
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Vlade\|Divac}}	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|81	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|80	2,840	725	301	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|103	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|180	1,024	35.1	9.0	3.7	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|1.3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|2.2	12.6
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Glen\|Rice}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SF \| 79	78	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3,362	318	160	72	26	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|2,115	42.6	4.0	2.0	.9	.3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|26.8
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Anthony\|Mason\|dab=basketball}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PF \| 73	73	3,143	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|829	414	76	33	1,186	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|43.1	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|11.4	5.7	1.0	.5	16.2
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Tony\|Smith\|dab=basketball}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| 69	39	1,291	94	150	48	19	346	18.7	1.4	2.2	.7	.3	5.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Dell\|Curry}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SG \| 68	20	2,078	211	118	60	14	1,008	30.6	3.1	1.7	.9	.2	14.8
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Muggsy\|Bogues}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| 65	65	1,880	141	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|469	82	2	522	28.9	2.2	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|7.2	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|1.3	.0	8.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Tony\|Delk}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| 61	1	867	99	99	36	6	332	14.2	1.6	1.6	.6	.1	5.4
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Malik\|Rose}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PF \| 54	1	525	164	32	28	17	160	9.7	3.0	.6	.5	.3	3.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Matt\|Geiger}}	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| 49	13	1,044	258	38	20	27	437	21.3	5.3	.8	.4	.6	8.9
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Rafael\|Addison}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SF \| 41	3	355	45	34	8	3	128	8.7	1.1	.8	.2	.1	3.1
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|George\|Zidek}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| 36	2	288	63	9	4	3	91	8.0	1.8	.3	.1	.1	2.5
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Anthony\|Goldwire}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| 33	9	576	38	94	19	1	190	17.5	1.2	2.8	.6	.0	5.8
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Scott\|Burrell}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|SF \| 28	2	482	79	39	14	11	151	17.2	2.8	1.4	.5	.4	5.4
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Ricky\|Pierce}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|SG \| 27	17	650	68	49	14	4	324	24.1	2.5	1.8	.5	.1	12.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Donald\|Royal}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|SF \| 25	2	320	58	10	12	2	70	12.8	2.3	.4	.5	.1	2.8
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Tom\|Chambers\|dab=basketball}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PF \| 12	5	83	14	4	1	0	19	6.9	1.2	.3	.1	.0	1.6
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Jamie\|Feick}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| 3	0	10	3	0	0	1	5	3.3	1.0	.0	.0	.3	1.7
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Eric\|Leckner}}^†	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| 1	0	11	1	1	0	0	0	11.0	1.0	1.0	.0	.0	.0

{{Plainlist|

^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

}}

=Playoffs=

style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|Player ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| POS \| Position}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| GP \| Games played}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| GS \| Games starter}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| MP \| Minutes played}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| REB \| Rebounds}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| AST \| Assists}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| STL \| Steals}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| BLK \| Blocks}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| PTS \| Points}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| MPG \| Minutes per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| RPG \| Rebounds per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| APG \| Assists per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| SPG \| Steals per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| BPG \| Blocks per game}} ! style="background:#00778B; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#280071 3px solid; border-bottom:#280071 3px solid;"\|{{Abbr\| PPG \| Points per game}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:right;"
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Glen\|Rice}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SF \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|137	11	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|11	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|4	1	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|83	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|45.7	3.7	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3.7	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|1.3	.3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|27.7
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Anthony\|Mason\|dab=basketball}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PF \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	131	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|36	9	1	1	39	43.7	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|12.0	3.0	.3	.3	13.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Vlade\|Divac}}	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	116	26	10	3	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|6	54	38.7	8.7	3.3	1.0	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|2.0	18.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Ricky\|Pierce}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SG \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	2	87	8	4	2	0	23	29.0	2.7	1.3	.7	.0	7.7
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Tony\|Delk}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	1	85	10	6	2	0	31	28.3	3.3	2.0	.7	.0	10.3
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Dell\|Curry}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SG \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	1	50	1	5	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|4	0	14	16.7	.3	1.7	style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|1.3	.0	4.7
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Matt\|Geiger}}	style="text-align:center;"\|C \| style="background:#280071; color:#FFFFFF;"\|3	0	31	8	2	2	1	6	10.3	2.7	.7	.7	.3	2.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Muggsy\|Bogues}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| 2	2	58	3	5	1	0	32	29.0	1.5	2.5	.5	.0	16.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Malik\|Rose}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PF \| 2	0	12	5	1	0	0	4	6.0	2.5	.5	.0	.0	2.0
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Tony\|Smith\|dab=basketball}}	style="text-align:center;"\|PG \| 2	0	9	1	2	1	0	1	4.5	.5	1.0	.5	.0	.5
style="text-align:left;"\|{{sortname\|Donald\|Royal}}	style="text-align:center;"\|SF \| 1	0	4	2	0	0	0	0	4.0	2.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

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:{{cite web | title = 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets Transactions | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHH/1997_transactions.html | access-date = July 2, 2021}}

References

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070422142246/http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CHA&lg=N&yr=1996 Hornets on Database Basketball]
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHH/1997.html Hornets on Basketball Reference]

Category:Charlotte Hornets seasons

Char

Bob

Category:1990s in Charlotte, North Carolina