1993–94 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1993–94 Charlotte Hornets season was the sixth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Hornets acquired Hersey Hawkins from the Philadelphia 76ers, and acquired Eddie Johnson from the Seattle SuperSonics.

Coming off of their first ever playoff appearance, and with the addition of Hawkins and Eddie Johnson, the Hornets won eight of their first twelve games of the regular season, but then posted a five-game losing streak between November and December afterwards. In December, the team traded Johnny Newman to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Rumeal Robinson. The Hornets soon struggled posting an eight-game losing streak between January and February, falling below .500 in winning percentage, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break. The team dealt with injuries as Larry Johnson only played 51 games due to a back injury, and second-year star Alonzo Mourning only appeared in 60 games due to a torn calf muscle, and a sprained ankle.

At mid-season, the Hornets traded Mike Gminski to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Frank Brickowski, and signed free agent Marty Conlon, but released him to free agency after 16 games, as he later on signed with the Washington Bullets. The team lost ten of their eleven games in February, and posted another eight-game losing streak between February and March, losing 16 of their 17 games between January 25 and March 5, 1994. The Hornets won 18 of their final 26 games of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Central Division with a 41–41 record; however, the team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs after finishing just one game behind the 8th-seeded Miami Heat.

Mourning averaged 21.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, while Johnson averaged 16.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, and sixth man Dell Curry provided the team with 16.3 points per game, led them with 152 three-point field goals off the bench, and was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In addition, Hawkins provided the team with 14.4 points and 1.6 steals per game, while Eddie Johnson contributed 11.5 points per game, and Muggsy Bogues provided with 10.8 points, 10.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Meanwhile, Kenny Gattison averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game off the bench, and David Wingate contributed 6.2 points per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mourning was selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star selection, but he did not participate due to injury. Meanwhile, Curry participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout.

The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the fifth time in six seasons, with an attendance of 971,609 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, Eddie Johnson left to play overseas in Greece, while Brickowski signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings, and Robinson was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | November 5, 1993 | Chicago | L 123–124 (OT) | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | November 6, 1993 | @ Milwaukee | W 120–103 | | | | Bradley Center | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 9, 1993 | @ Cleveland | L 108–113 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | November 11, 1993 | Orlando | W 120–87 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | November 12, 1993 | @ Boston | W 110–107 | | | | Boston Garden | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 16, 1993 | @ Indiana | W 102–93 | | | | Market Square Arena | 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | November 17, 1993 | Sacramento | W 130–113 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 5–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 19, 1993 | Washington | W 127–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 6–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | November 20, 1993 | @ Atlanta | L 91–96 | | | | The Omni | 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 23, 1993 | @ Washington | L 98–118 | | | | USAir Arena | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 24, 1993 | L.A. Lakers | W 141–124 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 26, 1993 | Milwaukee | W 110–99 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 27, 1993 | @ Miami | L 100–114 | | | | Miami Arena | 8–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | December 1, 1993 | San Antonio | L 88–92 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 8–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | December 3, 1993 | @ Denver | L 94–102 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 8–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 4, 1993 | @ Utah | L 108–122 | | | | Delta Center | 8–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 7, 1993 | @ Houston | L 102–121 | | | | The Summit | 8–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 9, 1993 | Cleveland | W 95–93 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 9–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 11, 1993 | New Jersey | W 105–99 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 10–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 14, 1993 | Minnesota | W 101–85 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 11–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | December 16, 1993 | @ New Jersey | L 95–111 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 11–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 17, 1993 | Denver | W 99–96 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 12–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | December 20, 1993 | @ Chicago | L 97–109 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 12–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 21, 1993 | @ Detroit | W 108–97 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 13–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 23, 1993 | Boston | W 118–100 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 14–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 27, 1993 | Detroit | W 109–94 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 15–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 28, 1993 | @ Cleveland | L 115–127 (OT) | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 15–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 30, 1993 | Chicago | W 115–95 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 16–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | January 2, 1994 | @ New York | W 124–123 (OT) | | | | Madison Square Garden | 17–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | January 4, 1994 | @ Atlanta | L 94–133 | | | | The Omni | 17–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | January 6, 1994 | Portland | L 110–116 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 17–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 8, 1994 | New York | W 102–99 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 18–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | January 11, 1994 | @ Phoenix | W 95–93 | | | | America West Arena | 19–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 13, 1994 | @ Sacramento | L 104–115 | | | | ARCO Arena | 19–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 14, 1994 | @ L.A. Lakers | W 130–122 | | | | Great Western Forum | 20–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 16, 1994 | @ Portland | L 101–106 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 20–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 19, 1994 | Philadelphia | W 115–103 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 21–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 21, 1994 | @ Milwaukee | L 110–113 | | | | Bradley Center | 21–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 22, 1994 | Milwaukee | W 91–80 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 25, 1994 | @ Miami | L 98–119 | | | | Miami Arena | 22–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | January 26, 1994 | Orlando | L 120–145 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 28, 1994 | Atlanta | L 105–117 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–20

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | February 2, 1994 | Indiana | L 112–124 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | February 4, 1994 | Miami | L 118–124 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | February 5, 1994 | @ Indiana | L 102–111 | | | | Market Square Arena | 22–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 7, 1994 | @ Philadelphia | L 117–125 | | | | The Spectrum | 22–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | February 9, 1994 | Golden State | L 116–126 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 22–25 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | February 16, 1994 | Houston | W 102–97 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 23–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 18, 1994 | Milwaukee | L 99–106 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 23–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | February 20, 1994 | Cleveland | L 101–105 (OT) | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 23–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | February 21, 1994 | @ Chicago | L 93–118 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 23–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 24, 1994 | Dallas | L 110–115 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 23–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 27, 1994 | @ Orlando | L 103–114 | | | | Orlando Arena | 23–30

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | March 1, 1994 | @ Seattle | L 96–112 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 23–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | March 2, 1994 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 109–118 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 23–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | March 5, 1994 | @ Golden State | L 112–129 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 23–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 8, 1994 | Phoenix | W 97–89 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 24–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | March 11, 1994 | @ Minnesota | W 97–91 | | | | Target Center | 25–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 12, 1994 | @ New Jersey | L 92–117 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 25–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | March 14, 1994 | Boston | W 107–101 (OT) | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 26–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 16, 1994 | Atlanta | W 92–79 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 27–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | March 18, 1994 | Utah | W 82–78 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 28–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | March 20, 1994 | Seattle | L 115–124 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 28–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | March 22, 1994 | Philadelphia | W 125–91 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 29–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 23, 1994 | @ Atlanta | L 92–100 | | | | The Omni | 29–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 25, 1994 | @ Detroit | W 106–92 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 30–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 26, 1994 | L.A. Clippers | W 121–109 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 31–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 29, 1994 | @ New York | L 95–106 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 31–37

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | April 1, 1994 | @ Dallas | W 106–104 | | | | Reunion Arena | 32–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | April 2, 1994 | @ San Antonio | L 111–117 | | | | Alamodome | 32–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | April 5, 1994 | @ Cleveland | L 99–105 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 32–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 6, 1994 | Indiana | W 129–90 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 33–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | April 8, 1994 | New Jersey | W 99–78 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 34–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 9, 1994 | @ Philadelphia | W 127–122 (OT) | | | | The Spectrum | 35–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 11, 1994 | Miami | W 99–97 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 36–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 14, 1994 | @ Orlando | W 112–108 | | | | Orlando Arena | 37–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | April 15, 1994 | Chicago | L 85–88 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 37–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 17, 1994 | New York | W 107–91 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 38–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 20, 1994 | Washington | W 117–111 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 39–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 21, 1994 | @ Boston | W 95–89 | | | | Boston Garden | 40–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 23, 1994 | Detroit | W 108–103 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 41–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | April 24, 1994 | @ Washington | L 99–117 | | | | USAir Arena | 41–41

Player statistics

Regular season

Awards and records

• Dell Curry, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award

Transactions

• September 1, 1993

Traded Kendall Gill and a 1994 1st round draft pick (Carlos Rogers was later selected) to the Seattle SuperSonics for Dana Barros, Eddie Johnson and a 1994 1st round draft pick (Sharone Wright was later selected).

• September 3, 1993

Traded Dana Barros, Greg Graham, Sidney Green and a 1994 1st round draft pick (Sharone Wright was later selected) to the Philadelphia 76ers for Hersey Hawkins.

• September 23, 1993

Signed LeRon Ellis as a free agent.

• November 6, 1993

Signed Steve Henson as a free agent.

• December 10, 1993

Traded Johnny Newman to the New Jersey Nets for Rumeal Robinson.

• January 1, 1994

Signed Lorenzo Williams as a free agent.

• January 5, 1994

Waived Lorenzo Williams.

• February 2, 1994

Signed Marty Conlon to the first of two 10-day contracts.

• February 16, 1994

Signed Tim Kempton to the first of two 10-day contracts.

• February 24, 1994

Traded Mike Gminski and a 1997 1st round draft pick (Paul Grant was later selected) to the Milwaukee Bucks for Frank Brickowski.

• February 25, 1994

Signed Marty Conlon to a contract for the rest of the season.

• March 22, 1994

Waived Marty Conlon.

• March 24, 1994

Marty Conlon claimed on waivers by the Washington Bullets.

Player Transactions Citation:

References

See also

• 1993-94 NBA season