# 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 9th season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. For the first time since the 1990–91 season, Larry Johnson was not on the team's opening day roster. The Hornets had the thirteenth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Kobe Bryant, but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac, acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks, and signed free agent Tony Smith during the off-season. The team also hired former Boston Celtics star Dave Cowens as their new head coach.
Under Cowens, and with the addition of Divac and Mason, the new-look Hornets played better than expected. After struggling with an 8–9 start to the regular season, the Hornets won 21 of their next 31 games, holding a 29–19 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Tom Chambers in January, then traded Scott Burrell to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Donald Royal, and dealt second-year guard Anthony Goldwire, and second-year center George Zidek to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ricky Pierce in February. However, Chambers was released to free agency after 12 games. The Hornets posted a nine-game winning streak in April, and finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a franchise best record of 54–28, making it back to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
Glen Rice had the best season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring with a career-high of 26.8 points per game, while leading the Hornets with 207 three-point field goals, and shooting .470 in three-point percentage, and also earned All-NBA Second Team honors. In addition, Mason averaged 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, and earned All-NBA Third Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, while Divac and Matt Geiger both provided the best center combo in the league, as Divac averaged 12.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, and Geiger provided the team with 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but only played just 49 games due to a back injury. Sixth man Dell Curry contributed 14.8 points per game off the bench, while Muggsy Bogues provided with 8.0 points, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and Smith contributed 5.0 points per game.
Rice was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio, where he set several scoring records and was selected the game's MVP. Rice finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Mason finished tied in ninth place; Rice also finished tied in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Curry finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Cowens finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.
However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hornets were swept by the New York Knicks in three straight games. The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the eighth, and final time during their history in Charlotte, with an attendance of 985,722 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season; they also had the best three-point percentage in NBA history, shooting 42.8% from beyond the arch.
Following the season, Pierce re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks during the next season, and Smith and Royal were both released to free agency.

## NBA draft

In the 1996 NBA draft, the Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick. Before he was chosen by the Hornets, the 17-year-old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West, who immediately foresaw potential in Bryant's basketball ability during pre-draft workouts. West even went on to state that Bryant's workouts were some of the best he had seen. Immediately after the draft, Dave Cowens expressed that the Hornets had no use for him. Fifteen days later, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School |
| 1 | 13 | Kobe Bryant | SG | United States | Lower Merion HS |
| 1 | 16 | Tony Delk | SG/PG | United States | Kentucky |
| 2 | 44 | Malik Rose | PF | United States | Drexel |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Power forward Tom Chambers was waived on April 8, 1997.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Chicago Bulls | 69 | 13 | .841 | – | 39–2 | 30–11 | 24–4 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 56 | 26 | .683 | 13 | 36–5 | 20–21 | 17–11 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 | 30–11 | 24–17 | 17–11 |
| x-Charlotte Hornets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 | 30–11 | 24–17 | 14–14 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 27 | 25–16 | 17–24 | 13–15 |
| Indiana Pacers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 30 | 21–20 | 18–23 | 11–17 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 36 | 20–21 | 13–28 | 10–18 |
| Toronto Raptors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 39 | 18–23 | 12–29 | 6–22 |
1996–97 NBA East standings :
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Chicago Bulls | 69 | 13 | .841 | – |
| 2 | y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | 8 |
| 3 | x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 12 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 56 | 26 | .683 | 13 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 24 |
| 8 | x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 25 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 27 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 30 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 36 |
| 12 | Toronto Raptors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 39 |
| 13 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 43 |
| 14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 47 |
| 15 | Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 54 |

### Record vs. opponents

1996-97 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 | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
| Charlotte | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Milwaukee | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New York | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1996–97 game log Total: 54–28 (home: 30–11; road: 24–17) :
November: 8–6 (home: 5–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 2, 1996
Toronto
W 109–98
Charlotte Coliseum
1–0
2
November 3, 1996
@ New York
L 86–113
Madison Square Garden
1–1
3
November 6, 1996
L.A. Lakers
W 88–78
Charlotte Coliseum
2–1
4
November 8, 1996
@ Washington
W 102–87
US Airways Arena
3–1
5
November 9, 1996
Milwaukee
L 98–100
Charlotte Coliseum
3–2
6
November 12, 1996
@ Miami
L 72–93
Miami Arena
3–3
7
November 14, 1996
@ Orlando
L 89–96
Orlando Arena
3–4
8
November 15, 1996
Chicago
L 87–110
Charlotte Coliseum
3–5
9
November 20, 1996
New York
W 93–86
Charlotte Coliseum
4–5
10
November 21, 1996
@ Indiana
W 90–87
Market Square Arena
5–5
11
November 23, 1996
Detroit
W 93–85
Charlotte Coliseum
6–5
12
November 26, 1996
Seattle
W 97–89
Charlotte Coliseum
7–5
13
November 27, 1996
@ Toronto
L 88–92
SkyDome
7–6
14
November 30, 1996
@ Milwaukee
W 94–87
Bradley Center
8–6 :
December: 8–7 (home: 3–2; road: 5–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
15
December 2, 1996
@ Utah
L 97–107
Delta Center
8–7
16
December 3, 1996
@ L.A. Clippers
L 89–96
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
8–8
17
December 6, 1996
@ Portland
L 93–97
Rose Garden Arena
8–9
18
December 7, 1996
@ Seattle
W 94–92
KeyArena
9–9
19
December 9, 1996
@ Vancouver
W 107–91
General Motors Place
10–9
20
December 11, 1996
Denver
W 101–97
Charlotte Coliseum
11–9
21
December 13, 1996
Philadelphia
W 84–75
Charlotte Coliseum
12–9
22
December 14, 1996
@ Chicago
L 82–87
United Center
12–10
23
December 17, 1996
@ Philadelphia
W 93–84
CoreStates Center
13–10
24
December 19, 1996
Chicago
L 72–93
Charlotte Coliseum
13–11
25
December 21, 1996
Atlanta
W 98–93
Charlotte Coliseum
14–11
26
December 22, 1996
@ Boston
W 102–98
FleetCenter
15–11
27
December 27, 1996
Miami
L 86–101
Charlotte Coliseum
15–12
28
December 28, 1996
@ Detroit
L 75–97
The Palace of Auburn Hills
15–13
29
December 30, 1996
@ Washington
W 101–92
US Airways Arena
16–13 :
January: 10–6 (home: 5–2; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
30
January 2, 1997
Dallas
W 107–97
Charlotte Coliseum
17–13
31
January 4, 1997
Washington
L 93–104
Charlotte Coliseum
17–14
32
January 6, 1997
@ Golden State
W 109–101
San Jose Arena
18–14
33
January 8, 1997
@ L.A. Lakers
L 97–101
Great Western Forum
18–15
34
January 10, 1997
@ Phoenix
L 90–102
America West Arena
18–16
35
January 12, 1997
@ Sacramento
W 97–93
ARCO Arena
19–16
36
January 13, 1997
@ Denver
W 102–100 (OT)
McNichols Sports Arena
20–16
37
January 15, 1997
New Jersey
W 116–104
Charlotte Coliseum
21–16
38
January 18, 1997
@ New Jersey
W 102–92
Continental Airlines Arena
22–16
39
January 20, 1997
@ Atlanta
L 97–106
The Omni
22–17
40
January 21, 1997
Houston
W 114–108
Charlotte Coliseum
23–17
41
January 24, 1997
New York
W 113–104 (OT)
Charlotte Coliseum
24–17
42
January 25, 1997
@ Cleveland
L 73–106
Gund Arena
24–18
43
January 28, 1997
@ Indiana
W 98–97
Market Square Arena
25–18
44
January 29, 1997
Indiana
L 95–106
Charlotte Coliseum
25–19
45
January 31, 1997
Milwaukee
W 102–95
Charlotte Coliseum
26–19 :
February: 10–3 (home: 6–1; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 2, 1997
@ New York
W 99–93
Madison Square Garden
27–19
47
February 4, 1997
Minnesota
W 115–101
Charlotte Coliseum
28–19
48
February 6, 1997
Sacramento
W 115–100
Charlotte Coliseum
29–19
All-Star Break
49
February 11, 1997
@ Chicago
L 100–103
United Center
29–20
50
February 12, 1997
New Jersey
W 113–100
Charlotte Coliseum
30–20
51
February 14, 1997
Detroit
L 103–109
Charlotte Coliseum
30–21
52
February 17, 1997
Orlando
W 124–110
Charlotte Coliseum
31–21
53
February 19, 1997
Phoenix
W 123–115
Charlotte Coliseum
32–21
54
February 21, 1997
L.A. Clippers
W 114–96
Charlotte Coliseum
33–21
55
February 22, 1997
@ Atlanta
W 93–92
The Omni
34–21
56
February 24, 1997
@ San Antonio
W 96–84
Alamodome
35–21
57
February 25, 1997
@ Dallas
L 84–86
Reunion Arena
35–22
58
February 27, 1997
@ Houston
W 106–95
The Summit
36–22 :
March: 9–4 (home: 6–3; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 2, 1997
@ Minnesota
W 108–96
Target Center
37–22
60
March 4, 1997
San Antonio
W 105–98
Charlotte Coliseum
38–22
61
March 6, 1997
Boston
W 122–121 (OT)
Charlotte Coliseum
39–22
62
March 9, 1997
Miami
W 82–76
Charlotte Coliseum
40–22
63
March 11, 1997
Vancouver
W 98–92
Charlotte Coliseum
41–22
64
March 14, 1997
@ Orlando
L 81–86
Orlando Arena
41–23
65
March 15, 1997
@ Philadelphia
W 107–99
CoreStates Center
42–23
66
March 17, 1997
Utah
L 93–114
Charlotte Coliseum
42–24
67
March 19, 1997
Cleveland
W 90–72
Charlotte Coliseum
43–24
68
March 21, 1997
@ Toronto
W 102–97
SkyDome
44–24
69
March 22, 1997
Golden State
W 100–93 (OT)
Charlotte Coliseum
45–24
70
March 26, 1997
Portland
L 87–88
Charlotte Coliseum
45–25
71
March 28, 1997
Indiana
L 115–116
Charlotte Coliseum
45–26 :
April: 9–2 (home: 5–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 2, 1997
Atlanta
W 95–84
Charlotte Coliseum
46–26
73
April 3, 1997
@ New Jersey
W 93–87
Continental Airlines Arena
47–26
74
April 5, 1997
Philadelphia
W 115–113
Charlotte Coliseum
48–26
75
April 7, 1997
@ Cleveland
W 110–105 (OT)
Gund Arena
49–26
76
April 9, 1997
Boston
W 136–111
Charlotte Coliseum
50–26
77
April 11, 1997
@ Detroit
W 93–85
The Palace of Auburn Hills
51–26
78
April 12, 1997
Washington
W 99–97
Charlotte Coliseum
52–26
79
April 14, 1997
Cleveland
W 94–82
Charlotte Coliseum
53–26
80
April 16, 1997
@ Boston
W 108–102
FleetCenter
54–26
81
April 18, 1997
Toronto
L 100–108
Charlotte Coliseum
54–27
82
April 20, 1997
@ Milwaukee
L 100–120
Bradley Center
54–28 :
1996–97 schedule :

## Playoffs

1997 playoff game log :
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 24, 1997
@ New York
L 99–109
Vlade Divac (27)
Anthony Mason (13)
Anthony Mason (5)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
0–1
2
April 26, 1997
@ New York
L 93–100
Glen Rice (39)
Divac, Mason (12)
four players tied (2)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
0–2
3
April 28, 1997
New York
L 95–104
Glen Rice (22)
Anthony Mason (11)
Glen Rice (9)
Charlotte Coliseum 24,042
0–3 :
1997 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Vlade Divac | C | 81 | 80 | 2,840 | 725 | 301 | 103 | 180 | 1,024 | 35.1 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 12.6 |
| Glen Rice | SF | 79 | 78 | 3,362 | 318 | 160 | 72 | 26 | 2,115 | 42.6 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .9 | .3 | 26.8 |
| Anthony Mason | PF | 73 | 73 | 3,143 | 829 | 414 | 76 | 33 | 1,186 | 43.1 | 11.4 | 5.7 | 1.0 | .5 | 16.2 |
| Tony Smith | PG | 69 | 39 | 1,291 | 94 | 150 | 48 | 19 | 346 | 18.7 | 1.4 | 2.2 | .7 | .3 | 5.0 |
| Dell Curry | SG | 68 | 20 | 2,078 | 211 | 118 | 60 | 14 | 1,008 | 30.6 | 3.1 | 1.7 | .9 | .2 | 14.8 |
| Muggsy Bogues | PG | 65 | 65 | 1,880 | 141 | 469 | 82 | 2 | 522 | 28.9 | 2.2 | 7.2 | 1.3 | .0 | 8.0 |
| Tony Delk | PG | 61 | 1 | 867 | 99 | 99 | 36 | 6 | 332 | 14.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | .6 | .1 | 5.4 |
| Malik Rose | PF | 54 | 1 | 525 | 164 | 32 | 28 | 17 | 160 | 9.7 | 3.0 | .6 | .5 | .3 | 3.0 |
| Matt Geiger | C | 49 | 13 | 1,044 | 258 | 38 | 20 | 27 | 437 | 21.3 | 5.3 | .8 | .4 | .6 | 8.9 |
| Rafael Addison | SF | 41 | 3 | 355 | 45 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 128 | 8.7 | 1.1 | .8 | .2 | .1 | 3.1 |
| George Zidek$^†$ | C | 36 | 2 | 288 | 63 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 91 | 8.0 | 1.8 | .3 | .1 | .1 | 2.5 |
| Anthony Goldwire$^†$ | PG | 33 | 9 | 576 | 38 | 94 | 19 | 1 | 190 | 17.5 | 1.2 | 2.8 | .6 | .0 | 5.8 |
| Scott Burrell$^†$ | SF | 28 | 2 | 482 | 79 | 39 | 14 | 11 | 151 | 17.2 | 2.8 | 1.4 | .5 | .4 | 5.4 |
| Ricky Pierce$^†$ | SG | 27 | 17 | 650 | 68 | 49 | 14 | 4 | 324 | 24.1 | 2.5 | 1.8 | .5 | .1 | 12.0 |
| Donald Royal$^†$ | SF | 25 | 2 | 320 | 58 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 70 | 12.8 | 2.3 | .4 | .5 | .1 | 2.8 |
| Tom Chambers | PF | 12 | 5 | 83 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 6.9 | 1.2 | .3 | .1 | .0 | 1.6 |
| Jamie Feick$^†$ | C | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3.3 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .3 | 1.7 |
| Eric Leckner$^†$ | C | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

### Playoffs

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Glen Rice | SF | 3 | 3 | 137 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 83 | 45.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .3 | 27.7 |
| Anthony Mason | PF | 3 | 3 | 131 | 36 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 43.7 | 12.0 | 3.0 | .3 | .3 | 13.0 |
| Vlade Divac | C | 3 | 3 | 116 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 54 | 38.7 | 8.7 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 18.0 |
| Ricky Pierce | SG | 3 | 2 | 87 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 29.0 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .7 | .0 | 7.7 |
| Tony Delk | PG | 3 | 1 | 85 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 28.3 | 3.3 | 2.0 | .7 | .0 | 10.3 |
| Dell Curry | SG | 3 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 16.7 | .3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .0 | 4.7 |
| Matt Geiger | C | 3 | 0 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10.3 | 2.7 | .7 | .7 | .3 | 2.0 |
| Muggsy Bogues | PG | 2 | 2 | 58 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 29.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | .5 | .0 | 16.0 |
| Malik Rose | PF | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6.0 | 2.5 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Tony Smith | PG | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.5 | .5 | 1.0 | .5 | .0 | .5 |
| Donald Royal | SF | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |

## Awards and records

* Glen Rice, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
* Bob Bass, NBA Executive of the Year Award
* Glen Rice, All-NBA Second Team
* Anthony Mason, All-NBA Third Team
* Anthony Mason, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

## Transactions

* July 11, 1996
Released Michael Adams.
Traded Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.
Released Robert Parish.
* July 14, 1996
Traded Larry Johnson to the New York Knicks for Brad Lohaus and Anthony Mason.
* October 3, 1996
Signed Bob McCann as a free agent.
October 19, 1996
Signed Tony Smith as a free agent.
* October 31, 1996
Waived Brad Lohaus.
* January 6, 1997
Signed Jamie Feick to the first of two 10-day contracts.
* January 28, 1997
Signed Eric Leckner to a 10-day contract.
* January 30, 1997
Signed Tom Chambers to a contract for the rest of the season.
* February 20, 1997
Traded Scott Burrell to the Golden State Warriors for Donald Royal.
Traded Anthony Goldwire and George Zidek to the Denver Nuggets for Ricky Pierce.
* April 8, 1997
Waived Tom Chambers.
Player Transactions Citation: