Charlotte Hornets facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charlotte Hornets
Conference	Eastern
Division	Southeast
Founded	1988
History	Charlotte Hornets 1988–2002, 2014–present Charlotte Bobcats 2004–2014
Arena	Spectrum Center
Location	Charlotte, North Carolina
Team colors	Teal, Hornets purple, gray, white
President	Shelly Cayette-Weston
General manager	Jeff Peterson
Head coach	Charles Lee
Ownership	Gabe Plotkin & Rick Schnall (majority) Eric Church, J Cole, and Michael Jordan (minority)
Affiliation(s)	Greensboro Swarm
Championships	0
Conference titles	0
Division titles	0
Retired numbers	1 (13)
Association Icon

The Charlotte Hornets are a professional basketball team from Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Hornets are part of the Eastern Conference, in the Southeast Division. Their home games are played at the Spectrum Center.

The team first started in 1988 as an expansion team. In 2002, the team moved to New Orleans. It was still called the Hornets until 2013, when it changed its name to the New Orleans Pelicans.

A new team, the Charlotte Bobcats, began playing in Charlotte in the 2004–05 NBA season. In 2006, Michael Jordan, a famous former NBA player, bought a small part of the team. He also started to manage their basketball operations. In 2010, Jordan became the main owner of the team. In 2013, the Bobcats announced they would become the Charlotte Hornets again for the 2014–15 season. When the name change happened, the team also got back the history and records of the original Hornets. This means the Hornets are now seen as if they paused playing from 2002 to 2004. The Pelicans are now considered a new team that started in 2002.

In August 2023, Michael Jordan sold most of his share in the Hornets. A group of investors led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall bought it. Jordan still owns a small part of the team.

History of the Charlotte Hornets

How the Hornets Started (1985–1988)

In 1985, the NBA wanted to add new teams. George Shinn, a businessman from Kannapolis, wanted to bring an NBA team to Charlotte. Charlotte was a fast-growing city and loved college basketball.

Shinn's big advantage was the Charlotte Coliseum. This was a new arena that could hold almost 24,000 fans. It was the biggest basketball arena ever for an NBA team. On April 5, 1987, the NBA chose Charlotte to get a new team. The team would start playing in 1988. Other new teams were also added in Miami, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and Orlando.

The team was almost called the Charlotte Spirit. But a contest was held to name the team, and "Hornets" won! The name comes from a British general who called Charlotte "a hornet's nest of rebellion" during a battle in 1780. The team became very popular when it chose teal as its main color. This started a new fashion trend in sports. The team's uniforms were designed by Alexander Julian. They were the first NBA uniforms to have pin stripes, which other teams soon copied.

The team hired Carl Scheer as its first President and General Manager. He wanted experienced players to make the team competitive right away. Dick Harter became the first head coach. In 1988, the Hornets and the Miami Heat picked players in the 1988 NBA Expansion Draft. Charlotte chose several experienced players. They also picked three players in the 1988 NBA draft.

Early Seasons (1988–1992)

The Hornets played their first NBA game on November 4, 1988, at the Charlotte Coliseum. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Four days later, they won their first game ever against the Los Angeles Clippers. On December 23, 1988, the Hornets beat Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. This was Jordan's first game back in North Carolina as a professional player. The Hornets finished their first season with 20 wins and 62 losses.

Even though some thought the Coliseum was too big, the Hornets were a huge success. They had the most fans at their games in the NBA. They did this seven more times in Charlotte. The Hornets even sold out 364 games in a row!

The team struggled in their second season. Coach Dick Harter was replaced by Gene Littles after a bad start. The team finished with 19 wins and 63 losses.

The team got better in the next season. They won eight of their first fifteen games. The Hornets hosted the 1991 NBA All-Star Game. They finished with 26 wins and 56 losses. Gene Littles was fired, and Allan Bristow became the new general manager.

With the first pick in the 1991 NBA draft, the Hornets chose Larry Johnson. Johnson had a great first year, scoring many points and getting many rebounds. He won the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Guard Kendall Gill also scored over 20 points per game. The team finished with 31 wins and 51 losses.

The Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning Era (1992–1995)

In the 1992 NBA draft, the Hornets picked Alonzo Mourning. Now, Charlotte had two strong players in Johnson and Mourning. With Kendall Gill, they were a top young group. The team finished their fifth season with 44 wins and 38 losses. This was their first winning record and their first time making the playoffs. The Hornets beat the Boston Celtics in the first round. Mourning made a game-winning shot in game four. But the Hornets 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. Johnson and Mourning still led the team in scoring.

In the 1994–95 season, the Hornets had 50 wins and 32 losses, making the playoffs again. But they lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round. After the season, the Hornets traded Mourning to the Miami Heat. They received Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, and Khalid Reeves.

The Glen Rice Era (1995–1998)

Glen Rice quickly made a big impact. He led the team in scoring in the 1995–96 season. Rice and Johnson scored a lot of points. Geiger got many rebounds, and Kenny Anderson played point guard while Muggsy Bogues was injured. The Hornets played well but missed the playoffs, finishing 41–41. Allan Bristow left, and Dave Cowens became the new coach.

In 1996, more big changes happened. Johnson was traded to the Knicks for Anthony Mason. The team also traded the rights to rookie Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. The new team was successful. Divac and Geiger played well at center. Mason got many rebounds and points. Bogues was back at point guard, and Rice had his best season. The team had its best record ever at the time, 54–28, and made it back to the playoffs. But they lost to the Knicks in three games.

The 1997–98 season was also good. Muggsy Bogues was traded early in the season. The team added David Wesley and Bobby Phills. With these players, the Hornets had a 51–31 record. They made the playoffs for the second year in a row. They reached the second round but were stopped by the Bulls.

Final Years of the Original Team (1998–2002)

The 1998–99 season was shorter because of a lockout. Games didn't start until February. Glen Rice was traded to the Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell. Dave Cowens resigned during the season and was replaced by Paul Silas. The team finished 26–24 but missed the playoffs.

For the next three seasons (1999–2000, 2000–01, and 2001–02), the Hornets made the playoffs every year. They reached the conference semifinals twice. Before the 2002 playoffs ended, the NBA approved the team's move to New Orleans. This move happened because fewer fans were coming to games.

The Charlotte Bobcats (2004–2014)

After the team moved to New Orleans, the NBA decided to add a new team in Charlotte. This was part of a deal with the city. On December 18, 2002, a group led by Robert L. Johnson was chosen to own the new team. He became the first African American main owner in major U.S. professional sports. The team was officially approved in January 2003. Hip-hop artist Nelly also became a co-owner. The owners paid $300 million to join the league.

In June 2003, the team was officially named the Bobcats. The name "Bobcats" was chosen because it sounded strong. Charlotte was already home to the Carolina Panthers football team, which is also a cat. So, the logo was made to look different from the Panthers' logo. Some people also think Johnson chose the name "Bobcats" because it sounded like his own name.

The Bobcats hired Bernie Bickerstaff as their first head coach and general manager. A new arena, the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, started being built in July 2003. The team played its home games at the Coliseum until the new arena was ready.

Return to Charlotte (2004–2010)

The Bobcats picked players in their expansion draft on June 22, 2004. They chose young players like Gerald Wallace and Primož Brezec. They also traded for the second pick in the 2004 NBA draft and chose Emeka Okafor. The Bobcats' first game was on November 4, 2004, at the Charlotte Coliseum. They lost to the Washington Wizards. Two days later, they won their first game against the Orlando Magic. On December 14, the Bobcats beat the New Orleans Hornets in overtime. This was the Hornets' first game back in Charlotte since moving. The Bobcats finished their first season with 18 wins and 64 losses. But Emeka Okafor won the 2004–05 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

In the 2005 NBA draft, the Bobcats drafted Raymond Felton and Sean May. In their second season, the Bobcats opened the Charlotte Bobcats Arena with a win. They finished the season with 26 wins and 56 losses, which was eight more wins than the year before. After the season, Michael Jordan bought a small part of the team. He also became the head of basketball operations.

The Bobcats got better in the 2006–07 season. They had 22 wins and 33 losses by February 2007. But then they lost eight games in a row. Jordan announced that Bickerstaff would not coach the next season. The Bobcats won 11 of their last 19 games and finished with 33 wins and 49 losses. On June 3, 2007, the Charlotte Coliseum was torn down. It was only 19 years old but was considered old because it didn't have enough luxury boxes.

The Bobcats focused on new leaders and coaches in 2007. Rod Higgins became the general manager, and Sam Vincent became the second head coach. In the 2007 NBA draft, the Bobcats picked Brandan Wright. They traded him for Jason Richardson. The Bobcats finished the 2007–08 season with 32 wins and 50 losses. Sam Vincent was fired in April 2008.

On April 29, 2008, the Bobcats hired Larry Brown as their third head coach. In the 2008 NBA draft, they picked D. J. Augustin. In December 2008, the Bobcats got Boris Diaw and Raja Bell in a trade. The team almost made the playoffs but finished with 35 wins and 47 losses. After the season, owner Bob Johnson said he was selling the team.

In 2009, the team picked Gerald Henderson in the 2009 NBA draft. The Bobcats traded Emeka Okafor for Tyson Chandler. They also got Stephen Jackson and Acie Law. On February 27, 2010, it was announced that Jordan would buy the team. He became the first former NBA player to own a team.

On April 9, 2010, the Bobcats made the playoffs for the first time. They won 104–103 against the New Orleans Hornets. They finished the 2009–10 season with 44 wins and 38 losses, their first winning season. Gerald Wallace was a big part of this success and became the Bobcats' first and only NBA All-Star. However, the Bobcats lost to the Orlando Magic in four games in the playoffs.

Final Years of the Bobcats (2010–2014)

The Bobcats hoped to make the playoffs again in the next season. But after a bad start, Jordan announced that Larry Brown had left as head coach. Paul Silas was hired as the new coach. The Bobcats traded Wallace and other players. They finished the season with 34 wins and 48 losses.

On June 13, 2011, the Bobcats hired Rich Cho as general manager. In the 2011 NBA draft, the Bobcats traded for the 7th pick and drafted Bismack Biyombo. With their 9th pick, they drafted Kemba Walker, who was a college star.

In the 2011–12 season, which was shorter due to a lockout, Charlotte lost many games. They lost their last 23 games. Their record was 7 wins and 59 losses, which was the worst season ever for an NBA team based on winning percentage. On April 30, 2012, the Bobcats announced that Silas would not return as head coach. Mike Dunlap was named his replacement.

Even with the worst record, the Bobcats got the second pick in the 2012 NBA draft. They chose Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeffery Taylor. They also added Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions, and Brendan Haywood. The Bobcats won their first game against the Pacers, ending their 23-game losing streak. They started the season 7–5 but then lost 18 games in a row. Charlotte finished with 21 wins and 61 losses. Dunlap was fired in April 2013. Steve Clifford became the new head coach.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Bobcats selected Cody Zeller. They also signed Al Jefferson. In February 2014, the team got Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour in a trade. The new players and coach helped the Bobcats make the playoffs for the second time. They finished the regular season with 43 wins and 39 losses. However, the Bobcats lost to the defending champion Miami Heat in four games in the first round.

Return of the Hornets (2014–Present)

Back to the Hornets Name (2014)

On May 21, 2013, Michael Jordan announced that the team wanted to change its name back to the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA approved this on July 18, 2013. The change would happen after the 2013–14 season.

The Bobcats announced they would use a new version of the original Hornets' teal, purple, and white colors. Black, gray, and Carolina blue would be accent colors. The team showed off its new logo and colors in December 2013. They also started the "Buzz City" campaign to get fans excited for the Hornets' return.

On May 20, 2014, the Bobcats officially became the Charlotte Hornets again. The team also announced that they got back the history and records of the 1988–2002 Hornets. The New Orleans Pelicans kept their records from 2002 to 2013. This means the Hornets are now seen as if they stopped playing from 2002 to 2004. The Pelicans are considered a new team that started in 2002.

Playoffs and Challenges (2014–2020)

In the 2014 NBA draft, the Hornets picked Noah Vonleh. They also traded for P. J. Hairston. During their first year as the Hornets, the team signed Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams. It was a tough year, and they finished with 33 wins and 49 losses. Stephenson was later traded.

The next year, the team got much better, with 48 wins and 34 losses. This was their best season since the original Hornets era. They made the playoffs again but lost to the Heat in seven games. They won two playoff games at home, their first playoff wins since the original Hornets.

In the off-season, some players left, but the Hornets re-signed Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams. They also brought in Roy Hibbert, Marco Belinelli, and Ramon Sessions. Hibbert was traded mid-season. Kemba Walker was chosen as an NBA All-Star for the first time. The Hornets finished the season with 36 wins and 46 losses, missing the playoffs.

The Hornets had a good off-season in 2017. They traded for former All-Star Dwight Howard. This reunited Howard with coach Steve Clifford. In the 2017 NBA draft, Charlotte picked Malik Monk. They also got Dwayne Bacon. Michael Carter-Williams joined the team as a backup guard.

In the 2017–18 season, Kemba Walker was chosen for his second NBA All-Star game. He also became the team's all-time leading scorer. After the season, general manager Rich Cho's contract was not renewed. In April 2018, Mitch Kupchak became the new president of basketball operations and general manager. On April 13, 2018, the Hornets fired head coach Steve Clifford. James Borrego was named his replacement on May 10.

On July 23, 2018, Tony Parker, a famous player, signed with the Hornets. In January 2019, Kemba Walker was chosen to start in the All-Star Game. This was his third All-Star appearance for the Hornets. In the 2018–19 season, Charlotte finished with 39 wins and 43 losses.

On June 20, 2019, the Hornets picked P. J. Washington in the 2019 NBA draft. On July 6, 2019, Kemba Walker left the Hornets to join the Boston Celtics.

The LaMelo Ball Era (2020–Present)

On November 18, 2020, the Hornets picked LaMelo Ball as the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. They also drafted Vernon Carey Jr. and Grant Riller. On November 29, 2020, the Hornets got Gordon Hayward in a trade. The Hornets finished the 2020–21 season 10th in the East with 33 wins and 39 losses. On June 16, 2021, Ball was named 2020–21 NBA Rookie of the Year. He was the third player in team history to win this award.

On February 7, 2022, Ball was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets made it to the play-in tournament for the second time in a row. But they lost to the Atlanta Hawks. On April 22, 2022, the Hornets fired head coach James Borrego. The team finished the 2021–2022 season with 43 wins and 39 losses.

On June 24, 2022, the Hornets named Steve Clifford as their new head coach. This was his second time coaching the team. They also drafted Mark Williams and signed Dennis Smith Jr..

In the 2022–23 NBA season, many Hornets players got injured. This led to a tough season with 27 wins and 55 losses. LaMelo Ball only played 36 games. However, Mark Williams showed he has great potential.

Because of their poor finish, the Hornets got the second pick in the 2023 NBA draft. They used it to select Brandon Miller.

On June 16, 2023, Michael Jordan announced he was selling most of his share in the team. The sale was approved by the NBA on July 23, 2023.

On April 3, 2024, Steve Clifford announced he would become an advisor after a 21–61 season. He is the Hornets' all-time win leader as a coach. On May 9, 2024, Charles Lee was announced as the new head coach.

Brandon Miller had a good first season. He scored 17 points per game and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting. LaMelo Ball had more injury problems and only played 22 games. Terry Rozier was traded to Miami. The team also got Grant Williams and traded away PJ Washington and Gordon Hayward. After the season, former player Kemba Walker was hired as an assistant coach.

Team Logos and Uniforms

Logos

The first Hornets logo was a teal and purple hornet dribbling a basketball. The words 'Charlotte Hornets' were curved around it.

The Bobcats' first logo (2004-2012) showed a snarling orange bobcat. The word 'Bobcats' was above it. Later, in 2012, the bobcat became gray, and Carolina blue was added.

Charlotte's current Hornets logo shows a teal and purple hornet facing forward. The words 'Charlotte Hornets' are on its body. It has wings and a stinger.

Uniforms

Original Hornets Uniforms

The first Hornets uniforms were designed by Alexander Julian. They were teal and purple and had pin stripes. Home uniforms were white with pinstripes, and away uniforms were teal with pinstripes. Both had "Charlotte" written on them.

In 1994, a purple alternate uniform was added, also with pinstripes. From 1997 to 2002, small changes were made. Side stripes and new colors were added.

Bobcats Uniforms

The Bobcats' first home jerseys were white with "Bobcats" in orange. Away jerseys were orange with "Charlotte" in white. They also had a blue alternate jersey. Special "Racing Day" blue uniforms were used to honor Charlotte's NASCAR fans.

For the 2009–10 season, the Bobcats changed their uniforms. They mixed parts of the old Hornets and Bobcats styles. They had silver pinstripes, like the Hornets.

In 2012, the Bobcats changed their uniforms again. They used less orange. The white home uniforms had 'Cats' in navy and Carolina blue. The navy away uniforms had 'Charlotte' in white and Carolina blue. These uniforms looked a bit like the Dallas Mavericks uniforms. Carolina blue was added to connect to Michael Jordan's college team, the Tar Heels.

Revived Hornets Uniforms

The new Hornets uniforms were shown on June 19, 2014. They had white home and purple road uniforms with "Hornets" on the chest. A teal alternate uniform with "Charlotte" on the chest was also introduced.

On June 25, 2015, the Hornets showed a black sleeved alternate uniform. It had their "Buzz City" nickname on the front.

Since the 2017–18 season, Nike's Air Jordan brand has made the Hornets' uniforms. The white "Association" and teal "Icon" uniforms have "Hornets" on the front. The purple "Statement" uniform has "Charlotte" on the front.

The purple "Statement" uniforms were updated in 2019. They had "CHA" on the front and teal "stinger" stripes. In 2020, new uniforms with double pinstripes were unveiled. They looked like the jerseys from 1997 to 2002.

Before the 2022–23 season, the purple "Statement" uniform was changed again. It brought back the "Hornets" wordmark.

The Hornets' "City" uniforms often change to celebrate different parts of Charlotte. Some have featured the "Buzz City" nickname or honored the city's history with gold mining. For example, the 2020–21 "City" uniform was mint green with gold trim, like old coins. The 2022–23 "City" uniform was black with "CLT" (Charlotte's airport code) in gold.

For the 2021–22 season, the "City" uniform mixed different past designs. It had a cursive "Charlotte" and numbers on the left chest. It also had purple cells and teal pinstripes.

The "Classic" edition uniforms bring back old Hornets pinstriped designs. Teal, white, and purple versions have been worn to celebrate anniversaries.

Season Records

Here are the results for the Hornets' last five seasons. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Season	GP	W	L	W–L%	Finish	Playoffs
2019–20	65	23	42	.354	4th, Southeast	Did not qualify
2020–21	72	33	39	.458	4th, Southeast	Did not qualify
2021–22	82	43	39	.524	3rd, Southeast	Did not qualify
2022–23	82	27	55	.329	5th, Southeast	Did not qualify
2023–24	82	21	61	.256	4th, Southeast	Did not qualify

Arenas

• Charlotte Coliseum (1988–2002, 2004–2005)
• Spectrum Center (2005–present) (known as Charlotte Bobcats Arena from 2005 to 2008 and Time Warner Cable Arena from 2008 to 2016)

The Hornets played their first 15 seasons at the Charlotte Coliseum. Fans called it "The Hive." It had over 23,000 seats, making it the largest basketball arena in the league. The Coliseum had 371 sold-out NBA games in a row. The Hornets led the NBA in attendance for eight of their first nine seasons. When the Bobcats returned to Charlotte, they played in the Coliseum temporarily in the 2004–05 season. After their new arena was built, the old Coliseum was closed in 2005.

In 2008, the Bobcats made a deal with Time Warner Cable for the naming rights to their new arena. The arena was called Time Warner Cable Arena. When the Hornets name returned, "The Hive" nickname also came back for the arena. In 2016, the arena was renamed the Spectrum Center.

The Hornets practice at the Novant Health Training Center, which is inside the Spectrum Center.

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Head Coaches

Team Records and Awards

Team Leaders

Bold means the player is still with the team. Italic means the player is still active but not with the team.

Regular Season (as of the end of the 2023–24 season)

Individual Awards

NBA All-Star Weekend

Retired Numbers

Charlotte Hornets Retired Numbers
No.	Player	Position	Tenure	Date
13	Bobby Phills	G	1997–2000	February 9, 2000

• The Charlotte Hornets retired Bobby Phills' number after he passed away in a car accident in 2000. His jersey was displayed in the arena. On November 1, 2014, his jersey was brought back to Charlotte and now hangs in the Spectrum Center.
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Charlotte Hornets Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
00	Robert Parish	C	1994–1996	2003
33	Alonzo Mourning	C/F	1992–1995	2014
12	Vlade Divac	C	1996–1998	2019
9	Tony Parker	G	2018–2019	2023
Coaches
Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted
Larry Brown		Head coach	2008–2010	2002

FIBA Hall of Famers

Charlotte Hornets Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
12	Vlade Divac	C	1996–1998	2010
33	Alonzo Mourning	C/F	1992–1995	2019

Mascot and Cheerleaders

Hugo The Hornet is the team's current mascot. When the Hornets name came back, Hugo was announced to return as the mascot for the 2014–15 NBA season.

From 2004 to 2014, Rufus D. Lynx was the mascot for the Bobcats. His name came from the scientific name for a bobcat, Lynx rufus. Rufus D. Lynx was a popular mascot. He was officially retired when the team became the Hornets again. The updated Hugo was shown to the public on June 5, 2014.

The Hornets also have an official cheerleading squad called the Charlotte Honey Bees. The Honey Bees perform dances during games. They also represent the Hornets in the community and help with charity events. When the team was the Bobcats, the cheerleaders were called the Lady Cats.

Media Coverage

The Hornets' games are shown on Bally Sports Southeast. Eric Collins and Dell Curry are the announcers.

The team's radio station is WFNZ-FM.

See also

In Spanish: Charlotte Hornets para niños