New Orleans Hornets

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Teams of Note

1992-1993 Charlotte Hornets; 2004-2005 New Orleans Hornets
Records: 44-38 (1992-1993); 18-64 (2004-2005)
Overall rankings: 569th, 0.068 points below average (1992-1993); 1010th, 6.363 points below average (2004-2005)
    The 1992-1993 Charlotte Hornets accomplished a dual distinction. Charlotte became the first of the NBA’s four late-1980s expansion teams to win a playoff series. The Hornets also become the first post-1960 expansion team to win its first playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
    Center Alonzo Mourning, acquired with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, led Charlotte to a 44-38 record in his rookie season. The Hornets’ first winning record also resulted in the team’s first playoff berth.
    Charlotte took control of its first-round postseason matchup against Boston with a 99-98 double-overtime victory in Boston Garden in Game 2 of the best-of-five series. Mourning won the series for the Hornets when he sank a 20-foot jumper in the final seconds to lift Charlotte to a 104-103 victory in Game 4.
    The Hornets were the first late-1980s expansion team to win a playoff series, but never have advanced past the second round of the playoffs. The three other expansion teams of the era – the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves – all needed longer to win their first playoff series, but all have advanced farther than the Hornets’ deepest run.
    The 2004-2005 New Orleans Hornets set an NBA record for biggest win decline in the season of a conference switch.
    The Hornets made 12 postseason appearances during their last 15 years in the Eastern Conference, including five in a row from 1999-2004.
    The Hornets moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference as part of the NBA’s realignment for the 2004-2005 season. New Orleans’ fortunes in its new conference illustrated the West’s superiority over the East at the time.
    The Hornets entered the West with largely the same cast they employed during the 2003-2004 season. Their record changed dramatically, though – from 41-41 and in the playoffs to 18-64 and in the lottery.

New Orleans Hornets From Top to Bottom

All-time RankingW-LPlayoffs
2831994-95Charlotte Hornets50-32East first round
3411999-00Charlotte Hornets49-33East first round
3451997-98Charlotte Hornets51-31East semifinals
3821996-97Charlotte Hornets54-28East first round
4262002-03New Orleans Hornets47-35East first round
4322000-01Charlotte Hornets46-36East semifinals
5272001-02Charlotte Hornets44-38East semifinals
5551998-99Charlotte Hornets26-24
5961992-93Charlotte Hornets44-38East semifinals
6151993-94Charlotte Hornets41-41
6451995-96Charlotte Hornets41-41
6532003-04New Orleans Hornets41-41East first round
7262006-07New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets39-43
8482005-06New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets38-44
9291991-92Charlotte Hornets31-51
10011990-91Charlotte Hornets26-56
10692004-05New Orleans Hornets18-64
10891989-90Charlotte Hornets19-63
11101988-89Charlotte Hornets20-62