1992–93 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1992–93 Charlotte Hornets season was the fifth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. The Hornets received the second overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, and selected center Alonzo Mourning out of Georgetown University. The team also signed free agent David Wingate during the first month of the regular season, then later on traded J.R. Reid to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Sidney Green in December, and released Tom Hammonds to free agency as he later on signed with the Denver Nuggets.

With the addition of Mourning, the Hornets struggled losing four of their first six games of the regular season, but then posted a five-game winning streak afterwards, and later on held a 26–23 record at the All-Star break. The team won nine of their final twelve games of the season, which included a five-game winning streak to close the season. The Hornets showed improvement finishing in third place in the Central Division with a 44–38 record, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualifying for their first ever NBA playoff appearance.

Second-year star Larry Johnson averaged 22.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Mourning averaged 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and Kendall Gill provided the team with 16.9 points and 1.4 steals per game. In addition, sixth man Dell Curry contributed 15.3 points per game off the bench, while Johnny Newman contributed 11.9 points per game, Muggsy Bogues provided with 10.0 points, 8.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game, Kenny Gattison averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game off the bench, and Wingate contributed 6.1 points per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Johnson was selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance. Mourning finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic, while Curry finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1993 NBA playoffs, the Hornets faced off against the 4th–seeded Boston Celtics, a team that featured All-Star guard Reggie Lewis, Xavier McDaniel and Robert Parish. The Hornets lost Game 1 to the Celtics on the road, 112–101 at the Boston Garden; Lewis collapsed on the court during the game, and was out for the remainder of the series. The Hornets managed to win the next three games, which included a Game 4 win over the Celtics at home, 104–103 at the Charlotte Coliseum, as Mourning sunk a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer; the Hornets won the series over the Celtics in four games, and became the first of the four expansion franchises of the late 1980s to win an NBA playoff series.

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion New York Knicks, who were led by the trio of All-Star center Patrick Ewing, John Starks and Charles Oakley. The Hornets lost the first two games to the Knicks on the road at Madison Square Garden, but managed to win Game 3 at the Charlotte Coliseum in double-overtime, 110–106. However, the Hornets lost the next two games, including a Game 5 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, 105–101, thus losing the series in five games.

The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the fourth time in five seasons, with an attendance of 971,880 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, Gill was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, and Green was released to free agency.

Offseason

NBA draft

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 6, 1992 | Washington | W 126–119 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 8, 1992 | @ Cleveland | L 107–127 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | November 10, 1992 | @ Orlando | W 112–108 | | | | Orlando Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 11, 1992 | Boston | L 99–109 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 13, 1992 | @ Indiana | L 109–110 | | | | Market Square Arena | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 14, 1992 | Miami | L 95–104 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | November 17, 1992 | Dallas | W 134–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 20, 1992 | Golden State | W 117–110 (OT) | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 4–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 21, 1992 | @ Miami | W 123–111 | | | | Miami Arena | 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 24, 1992 | Philadelphia | W 127–119 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 25, 1992 | @ Detroit | W 101–97 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 27, 1992 | @ Boston | L 102–111 | | | | Boston Garden | 7–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 28, 1992 | Indiana | L 122–134 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 7–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | December 1, 1992<br>9:30p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 90–109 | Johnson (27) | Johnson (11) | Bogues (12) | America West Arena<br>19,023 | 7–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 2, 1992 | @ Golden State | W 111–110 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 8–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | December 4, 1992 | @ Sacramento | W 112–111 | | | | ARCO Arena | 9–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 5, 1992 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 109–119 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 9–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 9, 1992<br>7:30p.m. EST | Phoenix | L 101–110 | Johnson (29) | Johnson (12) | Bogues (14) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 9–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 10, 1992 | @ New York | W 110–103 (OT) | | | | Madison Square Garden | 10–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 12, 1992 | Denver | W 109–100 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 11–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | December 15, 1992<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 110–125 | Curry (26) | Johnson (14) | Bogues (9) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,088 | 11–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | December 16, 1992 | Utah | L 91–93 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 11–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 19, 1992 | @ Washington | W 126–117 | | | | Capital Centre | 12–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 22, 1992 | @ Atlanta | W 130–114 | | | | The Omni | 13–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 23, 1992 | Detroit | W 107–95 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 14–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 28, 1992 | @ New Jersey | L 103–104 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 14–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 29, 1992<br>7:30p.m. EST | Chicago | L 103–104 | Newman (28) | Johnson (9) | Bogues (10) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 14–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 2, 1993 | New Jersey | W 104–103 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 15–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | January 5, 1993 | Boston | L 103–107 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 15–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | January 8, 1993 | L.A. Clippers | W 115–101 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 16–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 11, 1993 | @ Dallas | W 132–113 | | | | Reunion Arena | 17–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | January 14, 1993 | @ Houston | L 107–111 | | | | The Summit | 17–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 16, 1993 | @ San Antonio | L 111–124 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 17–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 19, 1993 | Atlanta | L 100–102 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 17–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 20, 1993 | @ New York | L 91–114 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 17–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | January 22, 1993<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | W 105–97 | Curry,<br>Gill,<br>Mourning (19) | Johnson (19) | Bogues (12) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,676 | 18–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 24, 1993 | Indiana | L 105–112 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 18–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 27, 1993 | Sacramento | W 117–107 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 19–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 29, 1993 | L.A. Lakers | L 108–123 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 19–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 30, 1993 | @ Washington | W 127–121 (OT) | | | | Capital Centre | 20–20

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | February 1, 1993 | Seattle | W 112–100 | Gill,<br>Johnson,<br>Mourning (19) | Johnson (11) | Bogues (11) | Charlotte Coliseum | 21–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | February 3, 1993 | @ Philadelphia | W 129–118 | | | | The Spectrum | 22–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | February 5, 1993 | Milwaukee | W 118–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | February 9, 1993 | Cleveland | L 103–107 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 23–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | February 11, 1993 | Orlando | W 116–107 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 24–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | February 12, 1993 | @ Miami | W 116–107 | | | | Miami Arena | 25–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | February 14, 1993 | Detroit | W 117–107 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 26–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 15, 1993 | @ Milwaukee | L 122–128 | | | | Bradley Center | 26–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 17, 1993 | New York | L 116–124 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 26–23 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 23, 1993 | New Jersey | W 104–95 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 27–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 25, 1993 | San Antonio | W 111–104 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 28–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 26, 1993 | @ Indiana | L 105–137 | | | | Market Square Arena | 28–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 28, 1993 | @ Denver | L 103–110 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 28–25

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | March 1, 1993 | @ Utah | W 110–107 | | | | Delta Center | 29–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | March 4, 1993 | @ Seattle | L 112–138 | Johnson (24) | Johnson (11) | Bogues (13) | Seattle Center Coliseum | 29–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | March 5, 1993 | @ Portland | W 94–92 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 30–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 7, 1993 | @ L.A. Lakers | W 105–101 | | | | Great Western Forum | 31–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | March 9, 1993 | Washington | W 124–104 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 32–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 11, 1993 | @ Cleveland | L 99–118 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 32–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | March 12, 1993<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 108–123 | Mourning (25) | Mourning (8) | Gill (6) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,676 | 32–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 14, 1993 | @ Boston | W 96–93 | | | | Boston Garden | 33–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 16, 1993 | Atlanta | L 107–122 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 33–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 18, 1993 | Minnesota | W 113–85 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 34–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 19, 1993 | @ Indiana | L 108–112 | | | | Market Square Arena | 34–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 21, 1993 | @ Minnesota | W 99–95 | | | | Target Center | 35–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 23, 1993 | Houston | L 103–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 35–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | March 24, 1993 | @ New Jersey | L 116–118 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 35–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 26, 1993 | @ Detroit | L 107–115 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 35–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 28, 1993 | Portland | L 114–121 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 35–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 30, 1993 | Miami | L 89–116 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 35–35

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | April 1, 1993 | @ Orlando | W 102–93 | | | | Orlando Arena | 36–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 2, 1993 | Cleveland | W 114–113 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 37–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | April 7, 1993 | Orlando | L 96–109 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 37–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 9, 1993 | @ Philadelphia | W 122–113 | | | | The Spectrum | 38–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | April 10, 1993 | Atlanta | L 105–118 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 38–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 12, 1993 | Philadelphia | W 120–101 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 39–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | April 14, 1993 | New York | L 107–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 39–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 16, 1993 | Detroit | W 127–93 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 40–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 17, 1993 | @ Atlanta | W 110–107 | | | | The Omni | 41–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 21, 1993 | Milwaukee | W 119–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 41–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 23, 1993<br>8:00p.m. EDT | Chicago | W 104–103 | Johnson (31) | Johnson (14) | Bogues (6) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 43–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 24, 1993 | @ Milwaukee | W 108–106 | | | | Bradley Center | 44–38

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 29, 1993 | @ Boston | L 101–112 | Gill,<br>Mourning (30) | Johnson (13) | Bogues (15) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 1, 1993 | @ Boston | W 99–98 (2OT) | Johnson (23) | Mourning (14) | Bogues (8) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 3, 1993 | Boston | W 119–89 | Johnson (29) | Johnson (11) | Bogues (7) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 5, 1993 | Boston | W 104–103 | Mourning (33) | Mourning (7) | Bogues (9) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | May 9, 1993 | @ New York | L 95–111 | Mourning (27) | Mourning (13) | Bogues (8) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,763 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 12, 1993 | @ New York | L 101–105 (OT) | Mourning (24) | Green (10) | Bogues (7) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,763 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 14, 1993 | New York | W 110–106 (2OT) | Mourning (34) | Mourning (10) | Bogues (8) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 16, 1993 | New York | L 92–94 | Johnson (24) | Mourning (8) | Bogues (5) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,698 | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 18, 1993 | @ New York | L 101–105 | Gill (26) | Mourning (12) | Gill (6) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,763 | 1–4 |-

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

• Larry Johnson, All-NBA Second Team
• Alonzo Mourning, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions

• August 31, 1992

Signed LaMark Baker as a free agent.

• October 2, 1992

Signed Lorenzo Williams as a free agent.

• October 7, 1992

Elliot Perry signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.

• November 2, 1992

Waived LaMark Baker.

• November 12, 1992

Waived Lorenzo Williams.

• November 18, 1992

Signed David Wingate as a free agent.

• December 9, 1992

Traded J.R. Reid to the San Antonio Spurs for Sidney Green, a 1993 1st round draft pick (Scott Burrell was later selected) and a 1996 2nd round draft pick (Ronnie Henderson was later selected).

• January 26, 1993

Waived Tom Hammonds.

Player Transactions Citation:

References

External links