# 1991–92 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Charlotte Hornets' fourth season in the National Basketball Association. With the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, the Hornets selected UNLV star Larry Johnson. Under new head coach Allan Bristow, the Hornets would get off to a slow start losing 8 of their first 9 games. At midseason, the team traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets in exchange for Tom Hammonds, who was out for the season with a groin injury he sustained with the Bullets. The Hornets would get stronger winning 9 of 13 games in February, on their way to finishing sixth in the Central Division with a record of 31 wins and 51 losses, a five-game improvement over the previous season.
Johnson averaged 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, as he won the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He also participated in the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Orlando. In addition, second-year star Kendall Gill averaged 20.5 points and 1.9 steals per game, while sixth man Dell Curry provided the team with 15.7 points per game off the bench, and Johnny Newman contributed 15.3 points per game. Kenny Gattison averaged 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while J.R. Reid provided with 11.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, but only played 51 games due to injury, and Muggsy Bogues contributed 8.9 points, 9.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the third time in four seasons.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 1 | Larry Johnson | PF | United States | UNLV |
| 2 | 28 | Kevin Lynch | SG | United States | Minnesota |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Power forward Tom Hammonds was acquired from the Washington Bullets at midseason, but did not play for the Hornets this season due to a groin injury.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Chicago Bulls | 67 | 15 | .817 | — | 36–5 | 31–10 | 22–6 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 10 | 35–6 | 22–19 | 21–7 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 48 | 34 | .585 | 19 | 25–16 | 23–18 | 15–13 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 27 | 26–15 | 14–27 | 13–15 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 29 | 23–18 | 15–26 | 7–21 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 36 | 25–16 | 6–35 | 10–18 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 36 | 22–19 | 9–32 | 10–18 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Chicago Bulls | 67 | 15 | .817 | – |
| 2 | y-Boston Celtics | 51 | 31 | .622 | 16 |
| 3 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 10 |
| 4 | x-New York Knicks | 51 | 31 | .622 | 16 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 48 | 34 | .585 | 19 |
| 6 | x-New Jersey Nets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 27 |
| 7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 27 |
| 8 | x-Miami Heat | 38 | 44 | .463 | 29 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 29 |
| 10 | Philadelphia 76ers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 32 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 36 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 36 |
| 13 | Washington Bullets | 25 | 57 | .305 | 42 |
| 14 | Orlando Magic | 21 | 61 | .256 | 46 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1991-92 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Cleveland | 5–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 4–1 | 0–4 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | — | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 2–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–0 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | — | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log
## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Larry Johnson | PF | 82 | 77 | 3,047 | 899 | 292 | 81 | 51 | 1,576 | 37.2 | 11.0 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .6 | 19.2 |
| Kenny Gattison | PF | 82 | 71 | 2,223 | 580 | 131 | 59 | 69 | 1,042 | 27.1 | 7.1 | 1.6 | .7 | .8 | 12.7 |
| Muggsy Bogues | PG | 82 | 69 | 2,790 | 235 | 743 | 170 | 6 | 730 | 34.0 | 2.9 | 9.1 | 2.1 | .1 | 8.9 |
| Kendall Gill | SG | 79 | 79 | 2,906 | 402 | 329 | 154 | 46 | 1,622 | 36.8 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 1.9 | .6 | 20.5 |
| Dell Curry | SG | 77 | 0 | 2,020 | 259 | 177 | 93 | 20 | 1,209 | 26.2 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | .3 | 15.7 |
| Anthony Frederick | SF | 66 | 26 | 852 | 144 | 71 | 40 | 26 | 389 | 12.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | .6 | .4 | 5.9 |
| Eric Leckner | C | 59 | 2 | 716 | 206 | 31 | 9 | 18 | 196 | 12.1 | 3.5 | .5 | .2 | .3 | 3.3 |
| Johnny Newman | SF | 55 | 55 | 1,651 | 179 | 146 | 70 | 14 | 839 | 30.0 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .3 | 15.3 |
| Kevin Lynch | SG | 55 | 3 | 819 | 85 | 83 | 37 | 9 | 224 | 14.9 | 1.5 | 1.5 | .7 | .2 | 4.1 |
| J. R. Reid | C | 51 | 7 | 1,257 | 317 | 81 | 49 | 23 | 560 | 24.6 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .5 | 11.0 |
| Elliot Perry$^†$ | PG | 40 | 0 | 371 | 32 | 64 | 25 | 2 | 113 | 9.3 | .8 | 1.6 | .6 | .1 | 2.8 |
| Mike Gminski | C | 35 | 10 | 499 | 118 | 31 | 11 | 16 | 202 | 14.3 | 3.4 | .9 | .3 | .5 | 5.8 |
| Rex Chapman$^†$ | PG | 21 | 11 | 545 | 54 | 86 | 14 | 8 | 260 | 26.0 | 2.6 | 4.1 | .7 | .4 | 12.4 |
| Greg Grant$^†$ | PG | 13 | 0 | 57 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4.4 | .3 | 1.4 | .6 | .0 | .1 |
| Ronnie Grandison | PF | 3 | 0 | 25 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8.3 | 3.7 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 3.3 |
| Tony Massenburg$^†$ | PF | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.3 | 1.3 | .0 | .3 | .0 | .3 |
| Michael Ansley$^†$ | SF | 2 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Cedric Hunter | PG | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

## Awards and records

* Larry Johnson, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
* Larry Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

## Transactions

* July 15, 1991
Waived Randolph Keys.
* September 4, 1991
Signed Anthony Frederick as a free agent.
* October 10, 1991
Signed Scott Haffner as a free agent.
* October 11, 1991
Waived Scott Haffner.
* October 31, 1991
Claimed Greg Grant on waivers from the Indiana Pacers.
* November 5, 1991
Waived Kevin Lynch.
* December 9, 1991
Signed Elliot Perry as a free agent.
Waived Greg Grant.
* December 11, 1991
Signed Tony Massenburg as a free agent.
* December 30, 1991
Signed Ron Grandison as a free agent.
* January 1, 1992
Signed Ron Grandison to the first of two 10-day contracts.
* January 2, 1992
Released Michael Ansley.
* January 7, 1992
Waived Ron Grandison.
Waived Tony Massenburg.
* January 10, 1992
Signed Michael Ansley to a 10-day contract.
* February 15, 1992
Signed Cedric Hunter to a 10-day contract.
* February 19, 1992
Traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets for Tom Hammonds.
* February 20, 1992
Waived Cedric Hunter.