# 2017–18 Charlotte Hornets season

The 2017–18 Charlotte Hornets season was the 28th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the fifth season under head coach Steve Clifford. It was also the last season where Rich Cho was the general manager for the Hornets and the last where Clifford was the head coach (until his return in 2022), as well as Mitch Kupchak's first year with Charlotte.
On March 28, 2018, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kemba Walker surpassed Dell Curry to become the franchise's all-time leader in points. The Hornets equaled their record from last season and went on to miss playoff contention for the second straight season.
On April 8, 2018, Kupchak was hired as the president of basketball operations and general manager of the Charlotte Hornets.
On April 13, 2018, the Hornets' president of basketball operations and general manager Kupchak announced that the team had relieved Steve Clifford of his head coaching duties.

## NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
| 1 | 11 | Malik Monk | SG | United States | Kentucky |
| 2 | 40 | Dwayne Bacon | SG | United States | Florida State |

## Game log
### Pre-season

2017 pre-season game log Total: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2) :
Pre-season: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 2
@ Boston
L 82–94
Kemba Walker (12)
Dwight Howard (10)
Lamb, Walker (3)
TD Garden 18,624
0–1
2
October 4
@ Detroit
W 108–106
Malik Monk (19)
Dwight Howard (11)
Julyan Stone (7)
Little Caesars Arena 13,882
1–1
3
October 9
@ Miami
L 106–109
Malik Monk (19)
Cody Zeller (8)
Malik Monk (4)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
1–2
4
October 11
Boston
L 100–108
Malik Monk (21)
Cody Zeller (9)
Kemba Walker (6)
Spectrum Center N/A
1–3
5
October 13
Dallas
W 111–96
Kemba Walker (18)
Dwight Howard (12)
Bacon, Walker (4)
Spectrum Center 10,018
2–3 :
2017–18 season schedule :

### Regular season

2017–18 game log Total: 36–46 (Home: 21–20; Road: 15–26) :
October: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 18
@ Detroit
L 90–102
Kemba Walker (24)
Dwight Howard (15)
Kemba Walker (4)
Little Caesars Arena 20,491
0–1
2
October 20
Atlanta
W 109–91
Kemba Walker (26)
Dwight Howard (15)
Kemba Walker (9)
Spectrum Center 18,417
1–1
3
October 23
@ Milwaukee
L 94–103
Frank Kaminsky (18)
Dwight Howard (22)
Kemba Walker (6)
Bradley Center 12,887
1–2
4
October 25
Denver
W 110–93
Frank Kaminsky (20)
Dwight Howard (19)
Lamb, Walker (5)
Spectrum Center 14,253
2–2
5
October 27
Houston
L 93–109
Kemba Walker (26)
Dwight Howard (16)
Kemba Walker (5)
Spectrum Center 17,339
2–3
6
October 29
Orlando
W 120–113
Kemba Walker (34)
Marvin Williams (11)
Kemba Walker (10)
Spectrum Center 15,531
3–3
7
October 30
@ Memphis
W 104–99
Kemba Walker (27)
Lamb, Williams, Zeller (8)
Kemba Walker (6)
FedExForum 15,711
4–3 :
November
: 4–9 (home: 4–2; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
November 1
Milwaukee
W 126–121
Kemba Walker (26)
Dwight Howard (11)
Treveon Graham (5)
Spectrum Center 15,655
5–3
9
November 3
@ San Antonio
L 101–108
Dwight Howard (20)
Dwight Howard (13)
Jeremy Lamb (6)
AT&T Center 18,418
5–4
10
November 5
@ Minnesota
L 94–112
Cody Zeller (16)
Howard, Zeller (9)
Kemba Walker (9)
Target Center 14,124
5–5
11
November 7
@ New York
L 113–118
Howard, Monk, Walker (21)
Dwight Howard (9)
Kemba Walker (7)
Madison Square Garden 18,704
5–6
12
November 10
@ Boston
L 87–90
Kemba Walker (20)
Dwight Howard (11)
Kemba Walker (11)
TD Garden 18,624
5–7
13
November 15
Cleveland
L 107–115
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (22)
Kidd-Gilchrist, Kaminsky (6)
Kemba Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 19,427
5–8
14
November 17
@ Chicago
L 120–123
Kemba Walker (47)
Dwight Howard (9)
Kemba Walker (5)
United Center 20,493
5–9
15
November 18
L.A. Clippers
W 102–87
Kemba Walker (26)
Dwight Howard (16)
Nicolas Batum (7)
Spectrum Center 17,640
6–9
16
November 20
Minnesota
W 118–102
Dwight Howard (25)
Dwight Howard (20)
Michael Carter-Williams (4)
Spectrum Center 15,978
7–9
17
November 22
Washington
W 129–124 (OT)
Dwight Howard (26)
Dwight Howard (13)
Jeremy Lamb (5)
Spectrum Center 16,041
8–9
18
November 24
@ Cleveland
L 99–100
Dwight Howard (20)
Dwight Howard (13)
Kemba Walker (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
8–10
19
November 25
San Antonio
L 86–106
Kemba Walker (18)
Dwight Howard (11)
Kemba Walker (5)
Spectrum Center 18,597
8–11
20
November 29
@ Toronto
L 113–126
Dwight Howard (22)
Dwight Howard (10)
Batum, Carter-Williams (5)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
8–12 :
December
: 5–11 (home: 3–7; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
21
December 1
@ Miami
L 100–105
Marvin Williams (16)
Dwight Howard (9)
Michael Carter-Williams (6)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
8–13
22
December 4
Orlando
W 104–94
Kemba Walker (29)
Nicolas Batum (11)
Nicolas Batum (7)
Spectrum Center 14,419
9–13
23
December 6
Golden State
L 87–101
Kemba Walker (24)
Cody Zeller (8)
Kemba Walker (5)
Spectrum Center 19,334
9–14
24
December 8
Chicago
L 111–119 (OT)
Dwight Howard (25)
Dwight Howard (20)
Nicolas Batum (10)
Spectrum Center 14,077
9–15
25
December 9
L.A. Lakers
L 99–110
Kemba Walker (23)
Dwight Howard (12)
Kemba Walker (1)
Spectrum Center 19,320
9–16
26
December 11
@ Oklahoma City
W 116–103
Dwight Howard (23)
Dwight Howard (7)
Kemba Walker (9)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
10–16
27
December 13
@ Houston
L 96–108
Dwight Howard (26)
Dwight Howard (18)
Batum, Walker, Carter-Williams (3)
Toyota Center 16,509
10–17
28
December 15
Miami
L 98–104
Kemba Walker (25)
Dwight Howard (16)
Nicolas Batum (10)
Spectrum Center 15,565
10–18
29
December 16
Portland
L 91–93
Nicolas Batum (23)
Dwight Howard (15)
Kemba Walker (6)
Spectrum Center 16,687
10–19
30
December 18
New York
W 109–91
Frank Kaminsky (24)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (9)
Kemba Walker (6)
Spectrum Center 15,386
11–19
31
December 20
Toronto
L 111–129
Jeremy Lamb (32)
Dwight Howard (9)
Nicolas Batum (5)
Spectrum Center 15,023
11–20
32
December 22
@ Milwaukee
L 104–109
Kemba Walker (32)
Marvin Williams (10)
Nicolas Batum (6)
Bradley Center 17,018
11–21
33
December 23
Milwaukee
W 111–106
Dwight Howard (21)
Dwight Howard (16)
Kemba Walker (8)
Spectrum Center 18,363
12–21
34
December 27
Boston
L 91–102
Kemba Walker (24)
Dwight Howard (17)
Kemba Walker (5)
Spectrum Center 19,611
12–22
35
December 29
@ Golden State
W 111–100
Dwight Howard (29)
Dwight Howard (12)
Dwight Howard (7)
Oracle Arena 19,596
13–22
36
December 31
@ L.A. Clippers
L 98–106
Kemba Walker (30)
Dwight Howard (10)
Nicolas Batum (6)
Staples Center 17,348
13–23 :
January
: 8–6 (home: 4–4; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
37
January 2
@ Sacramento
W 131–111
Dwight Howard (20)
Dwight Howard (8)
Kemba Walker (10)
Golden 1 Center 17,583
14–23
38
January 5
@ L.A. Lakers
W 108–94
Kemba Walker (19)
Dwight Howard (10)
Kemba Walker (7)
Staples Center 18,997
15–23
39
January 10
Dallas
L 111–115
Kemba Walker (41)
Dwight Howard (12)
Kemba Walker (4)
Spectrum Center 14,462
15–24
40
January 12
Utah
W 99–88
Kemba Walker (22)
Dwight Howard (13)
Kemba Walker (6)
Spectrum Center 14,848
16–24
41
January 13
Oklahoma City
L 91–101
Kemba Walker (19)
Dwight Howard (17)
Marvin Williams (4)
Spectrum Center 19,624
16–25
42
January 15
@ Detroit
W 118–107
Dwight Howard (21)
Dwight Howard (17)
Kemba Walker (9)
Little Caesars Arena 17,200
17–25
43
January 17
Washington
W 133–109
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (21)
Dwight Howard (15)
Kemba Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 11,528
18–25
44
January 20
Miami
L 105–106
Nicolas Batum (26)
Dwight Howard (15)
Kemba Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 18,687
18–26
45
January 22
Sacramento
W 112–107
Kemba Walker (26)
Dwight Howard (16)
Kemba Walker (9)
Spectrum Center 11,806
19–26
46
January 24
New Orleans
L 96–101
Dwight Howard (22)
Dwight Howard (16)
Kemba Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 14,588
19–27
47
January 26
Atlanta
W 121–110
Kemba Walker (29)
Dwight Howard (15)
Nicolas Batum (8)
Spectrum Center 15,479
20–27
48
January 27
@ Miami
L 91–95
Kemba Walker (30)
Dwight Howard (16)
Kemba Walker (5)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
20–28
49
January 29
@ Indiana
L 96–105
Kemba Walker (23)
Dwight Howard (11)
Kemba Walker (4)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 14,225
20–29
50
January 31
@ Atlanta
W 123–110
Kemba Walker (30)
Dwight Howard (16)
Nicolas Batum (10)
Philips Arena 13,103
21–29 :
February
: 7–5 (home: 4–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
51
February 2
Indiana
W 133–126
Kemba Walker (41)
Dwight Howard (11)
Kemba Walker (9)
Spectrum Center 17,135
22–29
52
February 4
@ Phoenix
W 115–110
Nicolas Batum (22)
Dwight Howard (14)
Batum, Walker (5)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 14,487
23–29
53
February 5
@ Denver
L 104–121
Kemba Walker (20)
Cody Zeller (10)
Nicolas Batum (5)
Pepsi Center 14,410
23–30
54
February 8
@ Portland
L 103–109 (OT)
Kemba Walker (40)
Dwight Howard (15)
Nicolas Batum (5)
Moda Center 19,178
23–31
55
February 9
@ Utah
L 94–106
Kemba Walker (19)
Dwight Howard (9)
Kemba Walker (5)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306
23–32
56
February 11
Toronto
L 103–123
Kemba Walker (23)
Dwight Howard (13)
Kemba Walker (9)
Spectrum Center 18,320
23–33
57
February 14
@ Orlando
W 104–102
Dwight Howard (22)
Dwight Howard (13)
Nicolas Batum (7)
Amway Center 18,428
24–33
58
February 22
Brooklyn
W 111–96
Kemba Walker (31)
Dwight Howard (24)
Batum, Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 14,112
25–33
59
February 23
@ Washington
W 122–105
Frank Kaminsky (25)
Kemba Walker (7)
Nicolas Batum (8)
Capital One Arena 17,824
26–33
60
February 25
Detroit
W 114–98
Howard, Walker (17)
Dwight Howard (12)
Nicolas Batum (9)
Spectrum Center 17,894
27–33
61
February 27
Chicago
W 118–103
Kemba Walker (31)
Nicolas Batum (7)
Nicolas Batum (12)
Spectrum Center 14,521
28–33
62
February 28
@ Boston
L 106–134
Kemba Walker (23)
Marvin Williams (9)
Nicolas Batum (10)
TD Garden 18,624
28–34 :
March
: 6–9 (home: 3–3; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
63
March 2
@ Philadelphia
L 99–110
Kemba Walker (31)
Nicolas Batum (13)
Nicolas Batum (8)
Wells Fargo Center 20,487
28–35
64
March 4
@ Toronto
L 98–103
Kemba Walker (27)
Dwight Howard (10)
Nicolas Batum (8)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
28–36
65
March 6
Philadelphia
L 114–128
Dwight Howard (30)
Dwight Howard (6)
Nicolas Batum (10)
Spectrum Center 15,600
28–37
66
March 8
Brooklyn
L 111–125
Kemba Walker (21)
Dwight Howard (7)
Kemba Walker (6)
Spectrum Center 14,173
28–38
67
March 10
Phoenix
W 122–115
Dwight Howard (30)
Batum, Howard (12)
Batum, Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 19,336
29–38
68
March 13
@ New Orleans
L 115–119
Howard, Walker (22)
Dwight Howard (11)
Nicolas Batum (8)
Smoothie King Center 15,507
29–39
69
March 15
@ Atlanta
W 129–117
Dwight Howard (33)
Dwight Howard (12)
Nicolas Batum (16)
Philips Arena 14,486
30–39
70
March 17
@ New York
L 101–124
Dwayne Bacon (15)
Dwight Howard (13)
Dwayne Bacon (3)
Madison Square Garden 17,760
30–40
71
March 19
@ Philadelphia
L 94–108
Kemba Walker (24)
Batum, Walker (8)
Kemba Walker (6)
Wells Fargo Center 20,530
30–41
72
March 21
@ Brooklyn
W 111–105
Dwight Howard (32)
Dwight Howard (30)
Kemba Walker (6)
Barclays Center 10,231
31–41
73
March 22
Memphis
W 140–79
Kemba Walker (46)
Willy Hernangómez (12)
Jeremy Lamb (6)
Spectrum Center 15,033
32–41
74
March 24
@ Dallas
W 102–98
Kemba Walker (24)
Dwight Howard (22)
Frank Kaminsky (6)
American Airlines Center 20,085
33–41
75
March 26
New York
W 137–128 (OT)
Kemba Walker (31)
Dwight Howard (13)
Kemba Walker (7)
Spectrum Center 14,487
34–41
76
March 28
Cleveland
L 105–118
Kemba Walker (21)
Dwight Howard (10)
Nicolas Batum (5)
Spectrum Center 19,474
34–42
77
March 31
@ Washington
L 93–107
Dwight Howard (22)
Dwight Howard (13)
Nicolas Batum (7)
Capital One Arena 19,071
34–43 :
April
: 2–3 (home: 0–2; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
78
April 1
Philadelphia
L 102–119
Kidd-Gilchrist, Monk (16)
Willy Hernangomez (11)
Kemba Walker (4)
Spectrum Center 17,005
34–44
79
April 3
@ Chicago
L 114–120
Dwight Howard (23)
Dwight Howard (17)
Nicolas Batum (5)
United Center 20,139
34–45
80
April 6
@ Orlando
W 137–100
Malik Monk (26)
Dwight Howard (17)
Malik Monk (8)
Amway Center 17,018
35–45
81
April 8
Indiana
L 117–123
Malik Monk (22)
Dwight Howard (12)
Frank Kaminsky (6)
Spectrum Center 16,629
35–46
82
April 10
@ Indiana
W 119–93
Frank Kaminsky (24)
Dwight Howard (17)
Batum, Stone (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,331
36–46 :
2017–18 season schedule :

## Standings

| Southeast Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y – Miami Heat | 44 | 38 | .537 | – | 26‍–‍15 | 18‍–‍23 | 11–5 | 82 |
| x – Washington Wizards | 43 | 39 | .524 | 1.0 | 23‍–‍18 | 20‍–‍21 | 8–8 | 82 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 36 | 46 | .439 | 8.0 | 21‍–‍20 | 15‍–‍26 | 11–5 | 82 |
| Orlando Magic | 25 | 57 | .305 | 19.0 | 17‍–‍24 | 8‍–‍33 | 5–11 | 82 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 20.0 | 16‍–‍25 | 8‍–‍33 | 5–11 | 82 |
Eastern Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c – Toronto Raptors * | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 82 |
| 2 | x – Boston Celtics | 55 | 27 | .671 | 4.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x – Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7.0 | 82 |
| 4 | y – Cleveland Cavaliers * | 50 | 32 | .610 | 9.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x – Indiana Pacers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 11.0 | 82 |
| 6 | y – Miami Heat * | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x – Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x – Washington Wizards | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 20.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Charlotte Hornets | 36 | 46 | .439 | 23.0 | 82 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 29 | 53 | .354 | 30.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Brooklyn Nets | 28 | 54 | .341 | 31.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 55 | .329 | 32.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Orlando Magic | 25 | 57 | .305 | 34.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35.0 | 82 |

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Dwight Howard | C | 81 | 81 | 2,463 | 1,012 | 105 | 48 | 131 | 1,347 | 30.4 | 12.5 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.6 | 16.6 |
| Kemba Walker | PG | 80 | 80 | 2,736 | 248 | 444 | 91 | 24 | 1,770 | 34.2 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.1 | .3 | 22.1 |
| Jeremy Lamb | SG | 80 | 18 | 1,967 | 324 | 186 | 61 | 32 | 1,033 | 24.6 | 4.1 | 2.3 | .8 | .4 | 12.9 |
| Frank Kaminsky | PF | 79 | 4 | 1,835 | 288 | 129 | 36 | 19 | 873 | 23.2 | 3.6 | 1.6 | .5 | .2 | 11.1 |
| Marvin Williams | PF | 78 | 78 | 2,006 | 370 | 96 | 56 | 38 | 744 | 25.7 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .7 | .5 | 9.5 |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | SF | 74 | 74 | 1,850 | 302 | 71 | 51 | 32 | 681 | 25.0 | 4.1 | 1.0 | .7 | .4 | 9.2 |
| Nicolas Batum | SG | 64 | 64 | 1,981 | 306 | 349 | 65 | 23 | 740 | 31.0 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 1.0 | .4 | 11.6 |
| Treveon Graham | SG | 63 | 2 | 1,050 | 121 | 59 | 33 | 2 | 273 | 16.7 | 1.9 | .9 | .5 | .0 | 4.3 |
| Malik Monk | SG | 63 | 0 | 854 | 66 | 91 | 20 | 9 | 421 | 13.6 | 1.0 | 1.4 | .3 | .1 | 6.7 |
| Dwayne Bacon | SG | 53 | 6 | 713 | 124 | 38 | 16 | 2 | 175 | 13.5 | 2.3 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 3.3 |
| Michael Carter-Williams | PG | 52 | 2 | 835 | 138 | 116 | 44 | 23 | 239 | 16.1 | 2.7 | 2.2 | .8 | .4 | 4.6 |
| Johnny O'Bryant III | PF | 36 | 0 | 379 | 93 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 171 | 10.5 | 2.6 | .4 | .3 | .2 | 4.8 |
| Cody Zeller | C | 33 | 0 | 627 | 177 | 31 | 14 | 21 | 233 | 19.0 | 5.4 | .9 | .4 | .6 | 7.1 |
| Julyan Stone | SG | 23 | 0 | 175 | 29 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | .2 | .1 | .8 |
| Willy Hernangómez$^†$ | C | 22 | 1 | 262 | 116 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 135 | 11.9 | 5.3 | .5 | .5 | .4 | 6.1 |
| Marcus Paige | PG | 5 | 0 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5.6 | .8 | .6 | .0 | .0 | 2.4 |
| Mangok Mathiang | C | 4 | 0 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5.0 | 2.5 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 2.0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 20, 2017 | To Charlotte HornetsDwight Howard 31st pick in the 2017 NBA draft | To Atlanta HawksMiles Plumlee Marco Belinelli 41st pick in the 2017 NBA draft |
| June 22, 2017 | To Charlotte HornetsDraft rights to Dwayne Bacon (pick 40) Cash considerations | To New Orleans PelicansDraft rights to Frank Jackson (pick 31) |
| February 7, 2018 | To Charlotte HornetsWilly Hernangómez | To New York KnicksJohnny O'Bryant III 2020 second round pick 2021 second round pick |

### Free agents
#### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Michael Carter-Williams | July 7, 2017 | Chicago Bulls |
| Mangok Mathiang | August 2, 2017 | Louisville Cardinals |
| Marcus Paige | August 2, 2017 | Salt Lake City Stars |
| Julyan Stone | August 23, 2017 | Umana Reyer Venezia |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Miles Plumlee | Traded | Atlanta Hawks |
| Marco Belinelli | Traded | Atlanta Hawks |
| Ramon Sessions | Unrestricted free agent | New York Knicks |
| Brian Roberts | Unrestricted free agent | Olympiacos Piraeus |
| Brianté Weber | Waived | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Christian Wood | Unrestricted free agent | Fujian SBS Sturgeons / Delaware 87ers |