# 1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1988–89 Charlotte Hornets season was Charlotte's inaugural season in the National Basketball Association. The "Charlotte Hornets", along with the Miami Heat, began play as expansion teams during the 1988–89 season; the team was originally going to be named the "Spirit", but later on changed it to the "Hornets". The team revealed a new primary logo of a hornet bouncing a basketball, and got new pinstripe uniforms, adding teal and purple to their color scheme.
In the 1988 NBA expansion draft, the Hornets selected veteran players like Dell Curry, second-year guard Muggsy Bogues, Mike Holton, Dave Hoppen, Ricky Green, and Mike Brown, who was then traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kelly Tripucka. The team also signed free agents; Kurt Rambis, who won four championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, Earl Cureton, and acquired Robert Reid from the Houston Rockets. The Hornets received the eighth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Rex Chapman from the University of Kentucky. Dick Harter was hired to be the team's first ever head coach.
The Hornets played their first game on November 4, 1988, losing 133–93 at the Charlotte Coliseum to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team struggled losing 10 of their first 12 games, held a 13–35 record at the All-Star break, then posted two nine-game losing streaks between February and March, and between March and April. The Hornets finished the season last place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 20 wins and 62 losses, and led the NBA in home-game attendance, becoming the first expansion team to do so, with an attendance of 949,858 at the Charlotte Coliseum; it was also an all-time NBA attendance record, which was broken by one of the two next season's expansion teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves the following season.
Tripucka led the team in scoring averaging 22.6 points per game, and finished tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Chapman averaged 16.9 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Reid provided the team with 14.7 points per game. In addition, Rambis provided with 11.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while Curry contributed 11.9 points per game off the bench, but only played just 48 games due to a wrist injury, Holton provided with 8.3 points and 6.3 assists per game, Cureton averaged 6.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, Hoppen provided with 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Bogues contributed 5.4 points, 7.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
The team's primary logo remained in use until 2002, while the uniforms lasted until 1997, where they added side panels and additional pinstripes to their jerseys.

## Offseason
### Expansion draft

The team's roster was filled as a result of an expansion draft in 1988. In a coin flip, the Hornets earned the right to choose either the higher choice in the college draft or the first pick in the expansion draft, picking the former. Most teams use such drafts to pick young players and guarantee a future, but Charlotte chose veterans in order to get a competitive lineup right away.
| Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Former Team |
| 2 | Dell Curry | Guard-Forward | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 4 | Dave Hoppen | Center-Forward | United States | Golden State Warriors |
| 6 | Tyrone Bogues | Point Guard | United States | Washington Bullets |
| 8 | Mike Brown | Forward-center | United States | Chicago Bulls |
| 10 | Rickey Green | Point Guard | United States | Utah Jazz |
| 12 | Michael Holton | Point Guard | United States | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 14 | Michael Brooks | Small Forward | United States | Denver Nuggets |
| 16 | Bernard Thompson | Guard-Forward | United States | Phoenix Suns |
| 18 | Ralph Lewis | Guard-Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 20 | Clinton Wheeler | Point Guard | United States | Indiana Pacers |
| 22 | Sedric Toney | Point Guard | United States | New York Knicks |
* ^ Traded for Kelly Tripucka from the Utah Jazz
* ^ Waived before the season.
* ^ Traded for Robert Reid from the Houston Rockets.
* ^ Sent to Portland Trail Blazers.
Also sent were Kurt Rambis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Earl Cureton of the Philadelphia 76ers.

### NBA draft

Subsequent to the expansion draft, Charlotte was given the eight pick in the 1988 NBA draft. They selected Rex Chapman, a shooting guard out of University of Kentucky.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 8 | Rex Chapman | Shooting Guard | United States | Kentucky |
| 2 | 34 | Tom Tolbert | Forward/center | United States | Arizona |
| 3 | 53 | Jeff Moore | Power Forward | United States | Tennessee State |

## Preseason

The Hornets' first official NBA game took place on October 14, 1988, at the Madison Square Garden, and was a 118–97 preseason loss to the New Jersey Nets.

## Regular season

The Hornets played their first season in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. The team's first regular season NBA game took place on November 4, 1988, at the Charlotte Coliseum, and was a 133–93 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the huge loss, the Hornets received a standing ovation at the end of the game. November 8, 1988, the team won their first game over the Los Angeles Clippers, 117–105. On December 23, 1988, the Hornets defeated Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 103–101 at the buzzer in Jordan's first return to North Carolina as a professional. During the season, Kelly Tripucka led the franchise with 22.6 points per game. Despite the Hornets mostly poor play (typical for an expansion franchise), the Hornets led the NBA in attendance during the season, selling out 36 of 41 home games (including the final 30).

### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 35–6 | 17–24 | 18–12 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 6 | 30–11 | 16–25 | 19–11 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 42 | 40 | .512 | 10 | 32–9 | 10–31 | 19–11 |
| Washington Bullets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12 | 30–11 | 10–31 | 17–13 |
| New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 26 | 17–24 | 9–32 | 9–21 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 32 | 12–29 | 8–33 | 8–22 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Boston Celtics | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
| 9 | Washington Bullets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 23 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 37 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 43 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Charlotte | 1–4 | 0–6 | — | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–1 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–6 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| New York | 2–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 1–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log

1988–89 Game Log (20–62) (Home: 12–29; Road: 8–33) :
November (3–10) (Home: 2–4; Road: 1–6)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord
1November 4, 1988ClevelandL 93–133Charlotte Coliseum23,3380–1
2November 5, 1988@ DetroitL 85–94The Palace of Auburn Hills21,4540–2
3November 8, 1988L.A. ClippersW 117–105Charlotte Coliseum18,8651–2
4November 11, 1988@ WashingtonL 87–96Capital Centre12,7311–3
5November 12, 1988@ AtlantaL 111–132The Omni16,1551–4
6November 15, 1988New JerseyL 99–106Charlotte Coliseum21,7481–5
7November 17, 1988@ DallasL 93–105Reunion Arena16,5121–6
8November 19, 1988@ San AntonioW 107–105HemisFair Arena10,8632–6
9November 22, 1988DetroitL 93–99Charlotte Coliseum23,3882–7
10November 23, 1988@ BostonL 109–114Boston Garden14,8902–8
11November 25, 1988@ PhiladelphiaL 116–123Spectrum10,5882–9
12November 26, 1988WashingtonL 113–120Charlotte Coliseum23,3882–10
13November 29, 1988MiamiW 99–84Charlotte Coliseum23,3883–10 :
December (5–9) (Home: 5–3; Road: 0–6)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord
14December 1, 1988PhiladelphiaW 109–107Charlotte Coliseum21,7164–10
15December 3, 1988@ HoustonL 104–108The Summit16,6114–11
16December 9, 1988New JerseyW 96–95Charlotte Coliseum23,3885–11
17December 10, 1988@ New JerseyL 112–121 (OT)Brendan Byrne Arena5–12
18December 13, 1988@ IndianaL 104–115Market Square Arena5–13
19December 14, 1988IndianaW 115–106Charlotte Coliseum22,6016–13
20December 16, 1988DallasL 98–107Charlotte Coliseum23,3886–14
21December 17, 1988@ DetroitL 91–100The Palace of Auburn Hills21,4546–15
22December 20, 1988@ MilwaukeeL 115–125Bradley Center15,0756–16
23December 21, 1988MilwaukeeL 100–112Charlotte Coliseum23,0106–17
24December 23, 1988ChicagoW 103–101Charlotte Coliseum23,3887–17
25December 26, 1988HoustonL 95–97Charlotte Coliseum23,3887–18
26December 28, 1988@ ClevelandL 98–122Richfield Coliseum17,3537–19
27December 30, 1988New YorkW 122–111Charlotte Coliseum23,3888–19 :
January (3–13) (Home: 1–5; Road: 2–8)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord
28January 3, 1989New JerseyL 106–109Charlotte Coliseum23,3888–20
29January 4, 1989@ WashingtonL 86–109Capital Centre8–21
30January 6, 1989@ BostonL 92–115Boston Garden14,8908–22
31January 7, 1989WashingtonW 107–104Charlotte Coliseum23,3889–22
32January 9, 1989UtahL 92–114Charlotte Coliseum23,3889–23
33January 11, 1989ChicagoL 101–106Charlotte Coliseum23,3889–24
34January 12, 1989@ New YorkL 89–106Madison Square Garden16,9439–25
35January 15, 1989PhiladelphiaL 109–116Charlotte Coliseum23,3889–26
36January 16, 1989@ PhiladelphiaW 127–122 (OT)Spectrum10,11610–26
37January 18, 1989@ MilwaukeeL 106–118Bradley Center16,14510–27
38January 19, 1989PhoenixL 112–126Charlotte Coliseum23,38810–28
39January 21, 1989@ AtlantaL 113–137The Omni16,37110–29
40January 24, 1989@ PhoenixL 103–106Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,08910–30
41January 26, 1989@ UtahW 89–88Salt Palace12,44411–30
42January 27, 1989@ L.A. LakersL 97–114Great Western Forum17,50511–31
43January 30, 1989@ PortlandL 118–130Memorial Coliseum12,84811–32 :
February (4–8) (Home: 4–5; Road: 0–3)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord
44February 1, 1989BostonL 94–107Charlotte Coliseum23,38811–33
45February 3, 1989SeattleW 108–106Charlotte Coliseum23,38812–33
46February 5, 1989ClevelandL 91–110Charlotte Coliseum23,38812–34
47February 7, 1989@ ChicagoL 93–118Chicago Stadium17,38512–35
48February 9, 1989AtlantaW 110–108Charlotte Coliseum23,38813–35
49February 14, 1989New YorkL 117–129Charlotte Coliseum23,38813–36
50February 17, 1989@ MiamiL 102–103Miami Arena15,00813–37
51February 18, 1989IndianaW 119–114Charlotte Coliseum23,38814–37
52February 22, 1989ChicagoL 102–130Charlotte Coliseum23,38814–38
53February 23, 1989@ New YorkL 114–139Madison Square Garden16,13014–39
54February 25, 1989San AntonioW 124–113Charlotte Coliseum23,38815–39
55February 28, 1989BostonL 87–112Charlotte Coliseum23,38815–40 :
March (2–13) (Home: 0–7; Road: 2–6)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord
56March 2, 1989@ New JerseyL 103–114Brendan Byrne Arena15–41
57March 3, 1989@ AtlantaL 109–133The Omni16,37115–42
58March 5, 1989@ WashingtonL 101–114Capital Centre6,66115–43
59March 8, 1989DenverL 99–112Charlotte Coliseum23,38815–44
60March 10, 1989L.A. LakersL 90–123Charlotte Coliseum23,38815–45
61March 12, 1989SacramentoL 105–114Charlotte Coliseum23,38815–46
62March 14, 1989@ DenverL 102–125McNichols Sports Arena10,52215–47
63March 16, 1989@ SeattleL 88–108Seattle Center Coliseum15–48
64March 17, 1989@ L.A. ClippersW 108–105Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena10,75816–48
65March 19, 1989@ Golden StateL 117–124Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,02516–49
66March 20, 1989@ SacramentoW 117–110ARCO Arena16,51717–49
67March 23, 1989WashingtonL 97–102Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–50
68March 25, 1989DetroitL 101–113Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–51
69March 27, 1989New YorkL 105–121Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–52
70March 30, 1989Golden StateL 104–113Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–53 :
April (3–9) (Home: 0–5; Road: 3–4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord
71April 1, 1989PortlandL 121–125 (OT)Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–54
72April 4, 1989@ ChicagoL 101–121Chicago Stadium17,57817–55
73April 7, 1989PhiladelphiaL 108–118Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–56
74April 9, 1989@ ClevelandL 116–122Richfield Coliseum19,27617–57
75April 10, 1989AtlantaL 105–112Charlotte Coliseum23,38817–58
76April 12, 1989@ New YorkW 104–99Madison Square Garden18,38518–58
77April 14, 1989@ PhiladelphiaW 119–115Spectrum14,32119–58
78April 15, 1989@ IndianaL 105–115Market Square Arena11,86019–59
79April 17, 1989BostonL 108–113 (OT)Charlotte Coliseum23,38819–60
80April 18, 1989@ New JerseyW 121–105Brendan Byrne Arena20–60
81April 21, 1989MilwaukeeL 110–117Charlotte Coliseum23,38820–61
82April 23, 1989@ BostonL 110–120Boston Garden14,89020–62 :
1988-89 Schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Robert Reid | SF | 82 | 54 | 2,152 | 302 | 153 | 53 | 20 | 1,207 | 26.2 | 3.7 | 1.9 | .6 | .2 | 14.7 |
| Earl Cureton | C | 82 | 41 | 2,047 | 488 | 130 | 50 | 61 | 532 | 25.0 | 6.0 | 1.6 | .6 | .7 | 6.5 |
| Muggsy Bogues | PG | 79 | 21 | 1,755 | 165 | 620 | 111 | 7 | 423 | 22.2 | 2.1 | 7.8 | 1.4 | .1 | 5.4 |
| Tim Kempton | PF | 79 | 0 | 1,341 | 304 | 102 | 41 | 14 | 484 | 17.0 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .5 | .2 | 6.1 |
| Dave Hoppen | C | 77 | 36 | 1,419 | 384 | 57 | 25 | 21 | 500 | 18.4 | 5.0 | .7 | .3 | .3 | 6.5 |
| Kurt Rambis | PF | 75 | 75 | 2,233 | 703 | 159 | 100 | 57 | 832 | 29.8 | 9.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | .8 | 11.1 |
| Rex Chapman | SG | 75 | 44 | 2,219 | 187 | 176 | 70 | 25 | 1,267 | 29.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | .9 | .3 | 16.9 |
| Kelly Tripucka | SF | 71 | 65 | 2,302 | 267 | 224 | 88 | 16 | 1,606 | 32.4 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 1.2 | .2 | 22.6 |
| Michael Holton | PG | 67 | 60 | 1,696 | 105 | 424 | 66 | 12 | 553 | 25.3 | 1.6 | 6.3 | 1.0 | .2 | 8.3 |
| Dell Curry | SG | 48 | 0 | 813 | 104 | 50 | 42 | 4 | 571 | 16.9 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .9 | .1 | 11.9 |
| Ralph Lewis | SF | 42 | 0 | 336 | 61 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 136 | 8.0 | 1.5 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 3.2 |
| Brian Rowsom | PF | 34 | 0 | 517 | 137 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 226 | 15.2 | 4.0 | .7 | .3 | .4 | 6.6 |
| Rickey Green$^†$ | PG | 33 | 2 | 370 | 23 | 82 | 18 | 0 | 128 | 11.2 | .7 | 2.5 | .5 | .0 | 3.9 |
| Sidney Lowe | SG | 14 | 0 | 250 | 34 | 93 | 14 | 0 | 23 | 17.9 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 1.0 | .0 | 1.6 |
| Tom Tolbert | SF | 14 | 0 | 117 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 40 | 8.4 | 1.5 | .5 | .1 | .3 | 2.9 |
| Greg Kite$^†$ | C | 12 | 12 | 213 | 53 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 38 | 17.8 | 4.4 | .6 | .3 | .7 | 3.2 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

## Awards and records

* Rex Chapman, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

## Transactions

* July 1, 1988
Released Clinton Wheeler.
* July 18, 1988
Signed Earl Cureton as a free agent.
Traded Bernard Thompson to the Houston Rockets for Robert Reid and a 1990 2nd round draft pick (Steve Scheffler was later selected).
* July 28, 1988
Signed Kurt Rambis as an unrestricted free agent.
* August 17, 1988
Signed Tim Kempton as a free agent.
* October 6, 1988
Signed Brian Rowsom as a free agent.
* October 17, 1988
Released Sedric Toney.
* December 30, 1988
Waived Tom Tolbert.
* February 22, 1989
Waived Rickey Green.
* March 27, 1989
Signed Sidney Lowe to the first of two 10-day contracts.
* March 29, 1989
Signed Greg Kite to a contract for the rest of the season.
Waived Ralph Lewis.
Player Transactions Citation: