1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season

1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season
Inaugural NBA season
Head coach Dick Harter
Owner(s) George Shinn
Arena Charlotte Coliseum
Results
Record 20–62 (.244)
Place Division: 6th (Atlantic)
Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finish Did not qualify

Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television WCCB
Radio WBT
Charlotte Hornets seasons
1989–90 >

The 1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season was Charlotte's inaugural season in the National Basketball Association. The Hornets, along with the Miami Heat, began play as expansion teams during the season.[1] Led by ex-Pistons guard Kelly Tripucka, The Hornets finished the season with a record of 20 wins and 62 losses, and also lead the NBA in attendance, becoming the first expansion team to do so.

Contents

Offseason

Expansion draft

The team's roster was filled as a result of an expansion draft in 1988. In a coin flip, the Hornets earned the right to choose either the higher choice in the college draft or the first pick in the expansion draft, picking the former.[2] Most teams use such drafts to pick young players and guarantee a future, but Charlotte chose veterans in order to get a competitive lineup right away.[1]

Pick Player Position Nationality Former Team
2 Dell Curry Guard  United States Cleveland Cavaliers
4 Dave Hoppen Forward  United States Golden State Warriors
6 Tyrone Bogues Point Guard  United States Washington Bullets
8 Mike Browna Point Guard  United States Chicago Bulls
10 Rickey Green Forward  United States Utah Jazz
12 Michael Holton Forward  United States Portland Trail Blazers
14 Michael Brooksb Small Forward  United States Denver Nuggets
16 Bernard Thompsonc Centre  United States Phoenix Suns
18 Ralph Lewis Guard-Forward  United States Detroit Pistons
20 Clinton Wheelerd Forward  United States Indiana Pacers
22 Sedric Toneyb Centre  United States New York Knicks

Also sent were Kurt Rambis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Earl Cureton of the Philadelphia 76ers.[5]

NBA Draft

Subsequent to the expansion draft, Charlotte was given the eight pick in the 1988 NBA Draft. They selected Rex Chapman, a shooting guard out of University of Kentucky.[1]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Rex Chapman Shooting Guard  United States Kentucky
2 34 Tom Tolbert Forward/Center  United States Arizona
3 53 Jeff Moore Power Forward  United States Tennessee State

Regular season

The Hornets played their first season in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.[6] The team's first official NBA game took place on November 4, 1988, at the Charlotte Coliseum, and was a 133–93 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[7] Despite the huge loss, the Hornets received a standing ovation at the end of the game. November 8, 1988, the team won their first game over the Los Angeles Clippers, 117–105.[8] On December 23, 1988, the Hornets defeated Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 103–101 at the buzzer in Jordan's first return to North Carolina as a professional.[9] During the season, Kelly Tripucka led the franchise with 22.6 points per game. Despite the Hornets mostly poor play (typical for an expansion franchise), the Hornets led the NBA in attendance during the season.

Season standings

Atlantic Division
Team W L PCT. GB
New York Knicks 52 30 .634 -
Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 6
Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 10
Washington Bullets 40 42 .489 12
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 26
Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 32

[10]

References

External Links