The 1991âÂÂ92 Charlotte Hornets season was the fourth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. The Hornets won the NBA draft lottery, and selected power forward Larry Johnson from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, and hired Allan Bristow as their new head coach.
Under Bristow, and with the addition of Johnson, the Hornets struggled losing eight of their first nine games of the regular season, and later on held a 14âÂÂ33 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets in exchange for Tom Hammonds, who was out due to a season-ending groin injury he sustained with the Bullets. The Hornets won 9 of their 13 games in February, while posting a five-game winning streak between February and March, but lost seven of their final eight games of the season, finishing tied in last place in the Central Division with a 31âÂÂ51 record, which was a five-game improvement over the previous season.
Johnson averaged 19.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, second-year star Kendall Gill averaged 20.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while sixth man Dell Curry provided the team with 15.7 points per game off the bench, and Johnny Newman contributed 15.3 points per game. Meanwhile, Kenny Gattison averaged 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, J.R. Reid provided with 11.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, but only played 51 games due to injury, and Muggsy Bogues contributed 8.9 points, 9.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, Johnson participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, while Curry participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout. Gill finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting. The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the third time in four seasons, which an attendance of 971,618 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season.
Waived Randolph Keys.
Signed Anthony Frederick as a free agent.
Signed Scott Haffner as a free agent.
Waived Scott Haffner.
Claimed Greg Grant on waivers from the Indiana Pacers.
Waived Kevin Lynch.
Signed Elliot Perry as a free agent.
Waived Greg Grant.
Signed Tony Massenburg as a free agent.
Signed Ron Grandison as a free agent.
Signed Ron Grandison to the first of two 10-day contracts.
Released Michael Ansley.
Waived Ron Grandison.
Waived Tony Massenburg.
Signed Michael Ansley to a 10-day contract.
Signed Cedric Hunter to a 10-day contract.
Traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets for Tom Hammonds.
Waived Cedric Hunter.