1992–93 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1992–93 Charlotte Hornets season was the fifth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association.

Season summary

Off-season The Hornets received the second overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, and selected center Alonzo Mourning out of Georgetown University.

Regular season During the first month of the regular season, the Hornets signed free agent David Wingate, and then later on traded J.R. Reid to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Sidney Green in December. The team also released Tom Hammonds to free agency, as he later on signed with the Denver Nuggets.

With the addition of Mourning and Wingate, the Hornets struggled losing four of their first six games of the 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, 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. 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.

NBA playoffs 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.

Aftermath Following the season, Gill was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, and Green was released to free agency.

Offseason

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 2 Alonzo Mourning C Georgetown 2 35 Tony Bennett PG Wisconsin–Green Bay

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, 19929:30p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 90–109 | Johnson (27) | Johnson (11) | Bogues (12) | America West Arena19,023 | 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, 19927:30p.m. EST | Phoenix | L 101–110 | Johnson (29) | Johnson (12) | Bogues (14) | Charlotte Coliseum23,698 | 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, 19928:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 110–125 | Curry (26) | Johnson (14) | Bogues (9) | Chicago Stadium18,088 | 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, 19927:30p.m. EST | Chicago | L 103–104 | Newman (28) | Johnson (9) | Bogues (10) | Charlotte Coliseum23,698 | 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, 19938:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | W 105–97 | Curry,Gill,Mourning (19) | Johnson (19) | Bogues (12) | Chicago Stadium18,676 | 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,Johnson,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, 19938:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 108–123 | Mourning (25) | Mourning (8) | Gill (6) | Chicago Stadium18,676 | 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