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1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season

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1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coachDick Harter
OwnersGeorge Shinn
ArenaCharlotte Coliseum
Results
Record20–62 (.244)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Atlantic)
Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid Not Qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWCCB
(Gary Sparber, Mike Pratt)
RadioWBT
(Steve Martin, Gil McGregor)
1989–90 >

The 1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season was Charlotte's inaugural season in the National Basketball Association. The Hornets, along with the Miami Heat, began play as expansion teams during the season.[1] Dick Harter was hired to be the team's head coach. The Hornets finished the season last place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 20 wins and 62 losses, and led the NBA in attendance, becoming the first expansion team to do so. Charlotte also set an all-time NBA attendance record, which was broken by Minnesota the following season. Kelly Tripucka led them in scoring averaging 22.6 points per game, and top draft pick Rex Chapman averaged 16.9 points per game while making the All-Rookie Second Team.

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.[2] 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.[1]

Pick Player Position Nationality Former Team
2 Dell Curry Guard-Forward  United States Cleveland Cavaliers
4 Dave Hoppen Center-Forward  United States Golden State Warriors
6 Tyrone Bogues Point Guard  United States Washington Bullets
8 Mike Browna Forward-Center  United States Chicago Bulls
10 Rickey Green Point Guard  United States Utah Jazz
12 Michael Holton Point Guard  United States Portland Trail Blazers
14 Michael Brooksb Small Forward  United States Denver Nuggets
16 Bernard Thompsonc Guard-Forward  United States Phoenix Suns
18 Ralph Lewis Guard-Forward  United States Detroit Pistons
20 Clinton Wheelerd Point Guard  United States Indiana Pacers
22 Sedric Toneyb Point Guard  United States New York Knicks

Also sent were Kurt Rambis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Earl Cureton of the Philadelphia 76ers.[5]

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.[1]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Rex Chapman Shooting Guard  United States Kentucky
2 34 Tom Tolbert Forward/Center  United States Arizona
3 53 Jeff Moore Power Forward  United States Tennessee State

Roster

Charlotte Hornets 1988-89 roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From
PG 1 United States Bogues, Muggsy 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 136 lb (62 kg) Wake Forest
SG 3 United States Chapman, Rex 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Kentucky
C 25 United States Cureton, Earl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Detroit Mercy
SG 30 United States Curry, Dell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Virginia Tech
PG 14 United States Green, Rickey 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Michigan
PG 6 United States Holton, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) California
C 42 United States Hoppen, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Nebraska
PF 41 United States Kempton, Tim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Notre Dame
C 32 United States Kite, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) BYU
SG 22 United States Lewis, Ralph 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) La Salle
PF 31 United States Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) Santa Clara
SF 50 United States Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Saint Mary's
PF 32 United States Rowsom, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UNC-W
SF 23 United States Tolbert, Tom 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Arizona
SF 7 United States Tripucka, Kelly 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Notre Dame
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

The Hornets played their first season in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.[6] The team's first official NBA game took place on November 4, 1988, at the Charlotte Coliseum, and was a 133–93 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 – 35–6 17–24 18–12
x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 6 30–11 16–25 19–11
x-Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 10 32–9 10–31 19–11
Washington Bullets 40 42 .488 12 30–11 10–31 17–13
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 26 17–24 9–32 9–21
Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 32 12–29 8–33 8–22
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 –
2 y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 11
3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 57 25 .695 6
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 52 30 .634 11
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks 49 33 .598 14
6 x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 16
7 x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 17
8 x-Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 21
9 Washington Bullets 40 42 .488 23
10 Indiana Pacers 28 54 .341 35
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 37
12 Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 43
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 3–1 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 4–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Boston 1–3 — 6–0 1–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 5–1 3–3 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4
Charlotte 1–4 0–6 — 1–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–4 2–4 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5
Chicago 2–4 3–1 4–1 — 0–6 2–0 1–1 0–6 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–2 3–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1
Cleveland 2–4 4–1 4–0 6–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 — 3–3 0–2 1–3 1–5 1–1 3–1 0–4 6–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 5–1 2–2 4–2 1–1
Denver 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 — 1–1 3–1 4–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–3 2–2 3–3 1–1
Detroit 5–1 3–1 4–0 6–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–4 4–0 0–4 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Golden State 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 — 1–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 2–3 3–1 2–4 2–2 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 3–1 — 2–0 2–2 1–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 6–0 2–2 2–4 0–2
Indiana 1–5 3–2 2–2 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–5 2–2 1–1 — 1–5 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–5 2–3 3–1 1–4 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 3–2 3–1 2–0 5–1 — 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–1 4–2 1–3 1–1
Miami 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–6 1–5 0–2 0–4 2–4 1–1 3–1 0–4 — 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 0–2
Milwaukee 0–6 2–2 4–0 0–6 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 — 4–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 1–4 1–5 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 — 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–5
New York 2–2 3–3 4–2 2–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–2 — 2–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Philadelphia 2–2 3–3 3–3 3–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 5–1 4–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2
Phoenix 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 4–2 3–1 1–1 5–1 3–3 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 — 2–3 5–1 3–1 4–1 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–3 0–2 5–1 0–5 4–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 — 3–3 4–0 2–4 0–4 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 1–5 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 — 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–2
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 3–3 0–2 1–3 0–6 0–2 1–3 1–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 — 0–4 1–5 1–1
Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 4–2 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–4 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 4–2 5–1 4–0 — 3–1 1–1
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 0–2 2–2 4–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 5–1 1–3 — 2–0
Washington 1–3 4–2 5–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–4 5–1 1–5 2–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 —

Game log

1988–89 Game Log (20–62) (Home: 12–29; Road: 8–33)
November (3–10) (Home: 2–4; Road: 1–6)
December (5–9) (Home: 5–3; Road: 0–6)
January (3–13) (Home: 1–5; Road: 2–8)
February (4–8) (Home: 4–5; Road: 0–3)
March (2–13) (Home: 0–7; Road: 2–6)
April (3–9) (Home: 0–5; Road: 3–4)
1988-89 Schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Muggsy Bogues 79 21 22.2 .426 .077 .750 2.1 7.8 1.4 0.1 5.4
Rex Chapman 75 44 29.6 .414 .314 .795 2.5 2.3 0.9 0.3 16.9
Earl Cureton 82 41 25.0 .501 .000 .537 6.0 1.6 0.6 0.7 6.5
Dell Curry 48 0 16.9 .491 .345 .870 2.2 1.0 0.9 0.1 11.9
Rickey Green 33 2 11.2 .432 .200 .929 0.7 2.5 0.5 0.0 3.9
Mike Holton 67 60 25.3 .427 .214 .839 1.6 6.3 1.0 0.2 8.3
Dave Hoppen 77 36 18.4 .564 .500 .727 5.0 0.7 0.3 0.3 6.5
Tim Kempton 79 0 17.0 .510 .000 .686 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.1 6.1
Greg Kite 12 12 17.8 .533 .600 4.4 0.6 0.3 0.7 3.2
Ralph Lewis 42 0 8.0 .479 .333 .487 1.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 3.2
Sidney Lowe 14 0 17.9 .320 .000 .636 2.4 6.6 1.0 0.0 1.6
Kurt Rambis 75 75 29.8 .518 .000 .734 9.4 2.1 1.3 0.8 11.1
Robert Reid 82 54 26.2 .428 .327 .776 3.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 14.2
Brian Rowsom 34 0 15.2 .494 1.000 .802 4.0 0.7 0.3 0.4 6.6
Tom Tolbert 14 0 8.4 .459 .000 .500 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.3 2.9
Kelly Tripucka 71 65 32.4 .467 .357 .866 3.8 3.2 1.2 0.3 22.6

Awards and records

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.

References

  1. ^ a b c 1988-89: Charlotte Stocks Roster With Veterans nba.com/hornets, accessed 25 April 2008.
  2. ^ Goldaper, Sam (1988-06-14). "Charlotte Is Betting On College Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  3. ^ a b c Expansion Drafts Revisited, HoopsAnalyst
  4. ^ "Sports People; Rockets Trade Reid". The New York Times. 1988-07-19. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  5. ^ Charlotte Buzzing Over the Hornets, The New York Times
  6. ^ 1988–89 Standings, nba.com/history, accessed 16 June 2007.
  7. ^ Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets, basketball-reference.com, 4 November 1988, accessed 25 April 2008.
  8. ^ Los Angeles Clippers 105, Charlotte Hornets 117
  9. ^ Jennifer Armstrong, The Times-Picayune. "1988 Charlotte Hornets started off with a bang, became wildly popular with their fans | NOLA.com". Blog.nola.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
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