1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season

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. 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.

• Traded for Kelly Tripucka from the Utah Jazz
• Waived before the season.
• Traded for Robert Reid from the Houston Rockets.
• Sent to Portland Trail Blazers.

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

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.

Roster

• Dick Harter
• Ed Badger
• Gene Littles

Preseason

The Hornets' first official NBA game took place on October 14, 1988, at the Madison Square Garden, and was a 118–97 preseason loss to the New Jersey Nets.

Regular season

The Hornets played their first season in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. The team's first regular season NBA game took place on November 4, 1988, at the Charlotte Coliseum, and was a 133–93 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 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. 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. 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, selling out 36 of 41 home games (including the final 30).

Season standings

:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

|- | 1 || November 4, 1988 || Cleveland || L 93–133 || Charlotte Coliseum || 23,338 || 0–1 |- | 2 || November 5, 1988 || @ Detroit || L 85–94 || The Palace of Auburn Hills || 21,454 || 0–2 |- | 3 || November 8, 1988 || L.A. Clippers || W 117–105 || Charlotte Coliseum || 18,865 || 1–2 |- | 4 || November 11, 1988 || @ Washington || L 87–96 || Capital Centre || 12,731 || 1–3 |- | 5 || November 12, 1988 || @ Atlanta || L 111–132 || The Omni || 16,155 || 1–4 |- | 6 || November 15, 1988 || New Jersey || L 99–106 || Charlotte Coliseum || 21,748 || 1–5 |- | 7 || November 17, 1988 || @ Dallas || L 93–105 || Reunion Arena || 16,512 || 1–6 |- | 8 || November 19, 1988 || @ San Antonio || W 107–105 || HemisFair Arena || 10,863 || 2–6 |- | 9 || November 22, 1988 || Detroit || L 93–99 || Charlotte Coliseum || 23,388 || 2–7 |- | 10 || November 23, 1988 || @ Boston || L 109–114 || Boston Garden || 14,890 || 2–8 |- | 11 || November 25, 1988 || @ Philadelphia || L 116–123 || Spectrum || 10,588 || 2–9 |- | 12 || November 26, 1988 || Washington || L 113–120 || Charlotte Coliseum || 23,388 || 2–10 |- | 13 || November 29, 1988 || Miami || W 99–84 || Charlotte Coliseum || 23,388 || 3–10

Player statistics

Ragular season

• † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

Awards and records

• Rex Chapman, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

Transactions

• July 1, 1988

Released Clinton Wheeler.

• July 18, 1988

Signed Earl Cureton as a free agent.

Traded Bernard Thompson to the Houston Rockets for Robert Reid and a 1990 2nd round draft pick (Steve Scheffler was later selected).

• July 28, 1988

Signed Kurt Rambis as an unrestricted free agent.

• August 17, 1988

Signed Tim Kempton as a free agent.

• October 6, 1988

Signed Brian Rowsom as a free agent.

• October 17, 1988

Released Sedric Toney.

• December 30, 1988

Waived Tom Tolbert.

• February 22, 1989

Waived Rickey Green.

• March 27, 1989

Signed Sidney Lowe to the first of two 10-day contracts.

• March 29, 1989

Signed Greg Kite to a contract for the rest of the season.

Waived Ralph Lewis.

Player Transactions Citation:

References

References

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2. (April 23, 1987). "NBA Gives Florida Two Franchises -- Miami, Orlando: League Also Grants Expansion Teams to Minneapolis and Charlotte for $32.5 Million". [[Los Angeles Times]].
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