The 2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season was the sixth season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association. They returned to New Orleans full-time for the first time since 2004–05. The Hornets had the sixth best team offensive rating in the NBA.
Although they declined an option to play part of this season at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, as they did for most of the previous two seasons, they did play their first preseason game at the Ford Center on October 9 for a final curtain call.
On February 21, 2008 Bobby Jackson was traded to the Houston Rockets along with teammate Adam Haluska for Bonzi Wells and Mike James as part of a three team deal involving Houston and the Memphis Grizzlies. Also, Marcus Vinicius was traded to the Rockets where they traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies to gain the rights to Malick Badiane and Sergei Lishouk.
The Hornets finished the regular season with a record of 56–26, good enough for winning the Southwest Division. This title was clinched with their win over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 15, and marks the first division title for the franchise. Their record also ensured the 2nd seed for the Western Conference playoffs. The Hornets closed the season with a 30–11 record at home along with a 26–15 road record. It is the only season in New Orleans franchise history that they have won 50 games in a season. The Hornets' accomplishments in the season earned coach Byron Scott the NBA Coach of the Year award.
On April 29 won game 5 of their first round playoff series vs. the 7th seeded Dallas Mavericks, thereby winning the series 4–1. This mark the first time in franchise history that they have won a seven-game playoff series. In his post-season debut, Chris Paul became the first player in NBA history to have at least 30 points and 10 assists in his first two playoff games. On May 19 the Hornets season ended after they were eliminated in game 7 by the defending champions San Antonio Spurs.
This was the first and only time a non Texas based franchise would win the Southwest Division, until 14 years later when the Memphis Grizzlies won its first division title in franchise history.
The team would not win another playoffs series until the 2017-18 season where they upset the 3rd seeded Portland Trail Blazers with an astonishing sweep.
NBA All-Star Game Byron Scott was named the Western Conference Team head coach for the NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2008. It came after the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Boston Celtics on January 31. He was the first Hornets head coach to ever coach in an NBA All-Star Game in the whole franchise history. Chris Paul and David West were also named reserves for the game. This would be the first All-Star appearance for the both of them. In addition, Peja Stojaković participated in the Three Point Shootout.
Key dates prior to the start of the season:
The 2007 NBA draft took place in New York City on June 28. The free agency period begins in July.
Draft picks New Orleans' selections from the 2007 NBA draft in New York City.
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 13 Julian Wright Forward Kansas 2 43 Adam Haluska Shooting guard Iowa
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Game log
October Record: 1–0; home: 1–0; road: 0–0
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 1 31 October 2007 Kings Hornets NA Chris Paul (22) 16,188 1–0
November Record: 10–6; home: 2–4; road: 8–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 2 2 November 2007 Trail Blazers Hornets NA Chris Paul (19) 9,817 2–0 3 4 November 2007 Hornets Nuggets NA David West (17) 13,156 3–0 4 6 November 2007 Hornets Lakers NA Peja Stojaković (36) 18,997 4–0 5 7 November 2007 Hornets Trail Blazers NA David West (34) 19,980 4–1 6 9 November 2007 Spurs Hornets NA Chris Paul (18) 15,297 4–2 7 11 November 2007 Hornets 76ers NA Two-way tie (16) 10,014 5–2 8 12 November 2007 Hornets Nets NA Chris Paul (27) 12,832 6–2 9 14 November 2007 76ers Hornets NA Morris Peterson (27) 8,302 7–2 10 16 November 2007 Hornets Grizzlies 1 David West (40) 13,271 8–2 11 17 November 2007 Hornets Timberwolves NA Peja Stojaković (22) 15,324 9–2 12 19 November 2007 Magic Hornets NA Peja Stojaković (21) 11,741 9–3 13 21 November 2007 Pacers Hornets NA David West (23) 11,609 9–4 14 23 November 2007 Hornets Jazz NA David West (18) 19,911 9–5 15 24 November 2007 Hornets Clippers NA Peja Stojaković (22) 15,601 10–5 16 26 November 2007 Timberwolves Hornets NA Chris Paul (31) 8,393 10–6 17 30 November 2007 Hornets Hawks NA David West (22) 14,186 11–6
December Record: 10–4; home: 6–2; road: 4–3
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 18 1 December 2007 Mavericks Hornets 1 Chris Paul (33) 12,223 12–6 19 5 December 2007 Pistons Hornets NA Peja Stojaković (19) 10,312 12–7 20 7 December 2007 Grizzlies Hornets 1 Chris Paul (43) 10,386 13–7 21 9 December 2007 SuperSonics Hornets NA Chris Paul (29) 10,793 14–7 22 12 December 2007 Hornets Nuggets NA Chris Paul (30) 13,337 14–8 23 14 December 2007 Hornets Mavericks NA Chris Paul (21) 20,071 14–9 24 15 December 2007 Suns Hornets NA Two-way tie (21) 13,705 15–9 25 17 December 2007 Hornets Trail Blazers NA David West (31) 15,183 15–10 26 19 December 2007 Hornets SuperSonics NA Morris Peterson (25) 11,968 16–10 27 22 December 2007 Timberwolves Hornets NA David West (22) 11,257 17–10 28 26 December 2007 Hornets Grizzlies NA Chris Paul (40) 11,189 18–10 29 28 December 2007 Hornets Bobcats NA David West (20) 18,237 19–10 30 29 December 2007 Cavaliers Hornets NA David West (27) 17,623 20–10 31 31 December 2007 Raptors Hornets NA David West (33) 11,444 20–11
January Record: 12–2; home: 7–2; road: 5–0
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 32 2 January 2008 Hornets Clippers NA David West (29) 14,965 21–11 33 4 January 2008 Hornets Warriors NA Two-way tie (24) 19,596 22–11 34 5 January 2008 Hornets Suns NA Chris Paul (28) 18,422 23–11 35 9 January 2008 Lakers Hornets NA Chris Paul (32) 15,805 23–12 36 11 January 2008 Heat Hornets NA Bobby Jackson (25) 17,133 24–12 37 13 January 2008 Hornets Rockets NA David West (26) 13,599 25–12 38 16 January 2008 SuperSonics Hornets NA Peja Stojaković (23) 12,882 26–12 39 18 January 2008 Bobcats Hornets NA David West (28) 14,986 27–12 40 21 January 2008 Bucks Hornets NA Tyson Chandler (20) 14,663 28–12 41 23 January 2008 Trail Blazers Hornets NA Jannero Pargo (24) 16,006 29–12 42 25 January 2008 Clippers Hornets NA Peja Stojaković (26) 16,538 30–12 43 26 January 2008 Hornets Spurs NA David West (32) 18,797 31–12 44 28 January 2008 Nuggets Hornets NA Chris Paul (23) 16,601 32–12 45 30 January 2008 Warriors Hornets NA Chris Paul (28) 17,410 32–13
February Record: 7–5; home: 4–2; road: 3–3
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 46 1 February 2008 Hornets Kings NA Peja Stojaković (25) 14,245 32–14 47 4 February 2008 Hornets Jazz NA Jannero Pargo (24) 19,911 32–15 48 6 February 2008 Hornets Suns 2 Chris Paul (42) 18,422 33–15 49 9 February 2008 Grizzlies Hornets NA David West (33) 17,431 34–15 50 12 February 2008 Hornets Bulls NA Two-way tie (27) 21,739 35–15 51 13 February 2008 Hornets Bucks NA David West (22) 14,317 36–15 52 20 February 2008 Mavericks Hornets NA Chris Paul (31) 16,941 37–15 53 22 February 2008 Rockets Hornets NA David West (20) 17,814 37–16 54 23 February 2008 Hornets Spurs NA Chris Paul (27) 18,797 37–17 55 25 February 2008 Wizards Hornets NA Chris Paul (22) 17,289 37–18 56 27 February 2008 Suns Hornets NA David West (27) 17,988 38–18 57 29 February 2008 Jazz Hornets NA David West (25) 17,949 39–18
March Record: 11–4; home: 7–0; road: 4–4
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 58 2 March 2008 Hornets Wizards NA Peja Stojaković (17) 20,173 39–19 59 3 March 2008 Hornets Knicks NA Chris Paul (27) 18,467 40–19 60 5 March 2008 Hawks Hornets NA Peja Stojaković (29) 17,430 41–19 61 7 March 2008 Nets Hornets NA Chris Paul (25) 17,225 42–19 62 8 March 2008 Hornets Rockets NA Chris Paul (37) 18,279 42–20 63 12 March 2008 Spurs Hornets NA David West (29) 17,419 43–20 64 14 March 2008 Lakers Hornets NA Chris Paul (27) 18,299 44–20 65 16 March 2008 Hornets Pistons NA Peja Stojaković (21) 22,076 44–21 66 17 March 2008 Bulls Hornets NA Chris Paul (37) 17,337 45–21 67 19 March 2008 Rockets Hornets NA Bonzi Wells (25) 18,056 46–21 68 22 March 2008 Celtics Hornets NA David West (37) 18,380 47–21 69 25 March 2008 Hornets Pacers NA David West (35) 10,829 48–21 70 26 March 2008 Hornets Cavaliers NA Peja Stojaković (25) 20,562 49–21 71 28 March 2008 Hornets Celtics NA Chris Paul (22) 18,624 49–22 72 30 March 2008 Hornets Raptors NA David West (32) 19,800 50–22
April Record: 6-4; home: 3-1; road: 3–3
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Leading scorer Attendance Record 73 1 April 2008 Hornets Magic NA Two-way tie (19) 17,519 51–22 74 2 April 2008 Hornets Heat NA David West (22) 19,122 52–22 75 4 April 2008 Knicks Hornets NA Chris Paul (33) 17,779 53–22 76 6 April 2008 Warriors Hornets NA Two-way tie (25) 17,909 54–22 77 8 April 2008 Jazz Hornets NA Peja Stojaković (15) 17,365 54–23 78 9 April 2008 Hornets Timberwolves NA Peja Stojaković (24) 17,265 55–23 79 11 April 2008 Hornets Lakers NA Peja Stojaković (24) 18,977 55–24 80 12 April 2008 Hornets Kings NA David West (30) 14,965 55–25 81 15 April 2008 Clippers Hornets NA David West (32) 17,388 56–25 82 16 April 2008 Hornets Mavericks NA David West (26) 20,473 56–26
Green background indicates win. Red background indicates loss.
Playoffs
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || April 19 || Dallas || 104–92 || Paul (35) || Chandler (15) || Paul (10) ||New Orleans Arena17,446 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 22 || Dallas || 127–103 || Paul (32) || Chandler (11) || Paul (17) ||New Orleans Arena17,855 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="edbebf" | 3 || April 25 || @ Dallas || || Pargo (30) || Chandler (11) || Paul (10) ||American Airlines Center20,839 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 27 || @ Dallas || 97–84 || West (24) || West (9) || Paul (8) ||American Airlines Center20,644 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 29 || Dallas || 99–94 || West (25) || Chandler (14) || Paul (15) ||New Orleans Arena18,260 || 4–1
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || May 3 || San Antonio || 101–82 || West (30) || Chandler (15) || Paul (13) || New Orleans Arena18,040 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || May 5 || San Antonio || 102–84 || Paul (30) || Chandler (11) || Paul (12) || New Orleans Arena17,927 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="edbebf" | 3 || May 8 || @ San Antonio || 99–110 || Paul (35) || West (12) || Paul (9) || AT&T Center18,797 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="edbebf" | 4 || May 11 || @ San Antonio || 80–100 || Paul (23) || Armstrong, Paul (6) || Paul (5) || AT&T Center18,797 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || May 13 || San Antonio || 101–79 || West (38) || West (14) || Paul (14) || New Orleans Arena18,246 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="edbebf" | 6 || May 15 || @ San Antonio || 80–99 || Paul (21) || Five-way tie (6) || Paul (8) || AT&T Center18,797 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="edbebf" | 7 || May 19 || San Antonio || 82–91 || West (20) || Chandler (15) || Paul (14) || New Orleans Arena18,235 || 3–4
Player statistics
Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 5 0 6.8 .286 .000 .500 1.8 .0 .00 .80 1.2 65 3 11.3 .453 .000 .629 2.5 .4 .23 .52 2.7 53 4 12.5 .490 .000 .552 1.9 .5 .60 .21 2.2 51 8 17.2 .350 .331 .839 2.0 .7 .29 .41 4.9 79 79 35.2 .623 .000 .593 11.7 1.0 .57 1.06 11.8 52 1 11.9 .472 .000 .552 2.8 .4 .13 .35 3.9 54 1 13.3 .348 .320 .813 1.3 1.1 .39 .04 5.0 80 5 18.7 .390 .349 .877 1.6 2.4 .63 .06 8.1 80 80 37.6 .488 .369 .851 4.0 11.6 2.71 .05 21.1 76 76 23.6 .417 .394 .765 2.7 .9 .62 .09 8.0 77 77 35.2 .440 .441 .929 4.3 1.2 .74 .13 16.4 73 7 21.4 .443 .240 .643 4.5 1.3 1.03 .44 9.1 76 76 37.8 .482 .240 .850 8.9 2.3 .82 1.30 20.6 57 1 11.2 .533 .417 .635 2.1 .7 .51 .21 3.9 *Total for entire season including previous team(s)
Playoffs