# 2020–21 Charlotte Hornets season

The 2020–21 Charlotte Hornets season was the 31st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Hornets were coached by James Borrego, in his third season as the team's head coach.
Following the 2019–20 NBA season, the Hornets qualified as a lottery team, receiving the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft lottery.
The Hornets selected LaMelo Ball with the 3rd pick in the 2020 NBA draft, followed by Vernon Carey Jr. and Grant Riller in the second round. In a draft-night trade, the Hornets also acquired Nick Richards from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick.
On November 30, in a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics, the Hornets acquired Gordon Hayward and two future second-round picks in exchange for a protected 2022 second-round pick. On March 25, the Hornets acquired Brad Wanamaker, a protected 2022 second-round pick, and cash considerations from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a protected 2025 second-round pick.
The Hornets' season ended following a 144–117 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA play-in tournament.

## NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
| 1 | 3 | LaMelo Ball | PG | United States | Illawarra Hawks |
| 2 | 32 | Vernon Carey Jr. | C | United States | Duke |
| 2 | 56 | Grant Riller | PG | United States | College of Charleston |

## Standings
### Division

| Southeast Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y – Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 31 | .569 | – | 25‍–‍11 | 16‍–‍20 | 9–3 | 72 |
| x – Miami Heat | 40 | 32 | .556 | 1.0 | 21‍–‍15 | 19‍–‍17 | 6–6 | 72 |
| x – Washington Wizards | 34 | 38 | .472 | 7.0 | 19‍–‍17 | 15‍–‍21 | 3–9 | 72 |
| pi – Charlotte Hornets | 33 | 39 | .458 | 8.0 | 18‍–‍19 | 15‍–‍20 | 8–4 | 72 |
| Orlando Magic | 21 | 51 | .292 | 20.0 | 11‍–‍25 | 10‍–‍26 | 4–8 | 72 |

### Conference

Eastern Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c − Philadelphia 76ers * | 49 | 23 | .681 | – | 72 |
| 2 | x – Brooklyn Nets | 48 | 24 | .667 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | y – Milwaukee Bucks * | 46 | 26 | .639 | 3.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – New York Knicks | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Atlanta Hawks * | 41 | 31 | .569 | 8.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Miami Heat | 40 | 32 | .556 | 9.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Boston Celtics | 36 | 36 | .500 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 8 | x – Washington Wizards | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 72 |
| 9 | pi – Indiana Pacers | 34 | 38 | .472 | 15.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – Charlotte Hornets | 33 | 39 | .458 | 16.0 | 72 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 41 | .431 | 18.0 | 72 |
| 12 | Toronto Raptors | 27 | 45 | .375 | 22.0 | 72 |
| 13 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 22 | 50 | .306 | 27.0 | 72 |
| 14 | Orlando Magic | 21 | 51 | .292 | 28.0 | 72 |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | 20 | 52 | .278 | 29.0 | 72 |
Notes
* z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
* c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
* y – Clinched division title
* x – Clinched playoff spot
* pb – Clinched play-in spot
* o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* * – Division leader

## Game log
### Preseason

2020 preseason game log Total: 1–3 (Home: 0-2; Road: 1–1) :
Preseason: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 12
Toronto
L 100–111
Miles Bridges (12)
LaMelo Ball (10)
LaMelo Ball (4)
Spectrum Center
0–1
2
December 14
Toronto
L 109–112
McDaniels, Rozier (15)
Bridges, Washington (6)
Graham, Hayward (6)
Spectrum Center
0–2
3
December 17
@ Orlando
W 123–115
Terry Rozier (20)
Terry Rozier (7)
Devonte' Graham (6)
Amway Center
1–2
4
December 19
@ Orlando
L 117–120
Devonte' Graham (25)
Miles Bridges (15)
Terry Rozier (6)
Amway Center
1–3 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Regular season

2020–21 game log Total: 33–39; Home: 18–18; Road: 15–21 :
December: 2–2 (home: 1–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 23
@ Cleveland
L 114–121
Terry Rozier (42)
Miles Bridges (6)
Devonte' Graham (10)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 300
0–1
2
December 26
Oklahoma City
L 107–109
Terry Rozier (19)
Bismack Biyombo (9)
Devonte' Graham (10)
Spectrum Center 0
0–2
3
December 27
Brooklyn
W 106–104
Gordon Hayward (28)
P. J. Washington (12)
Gordon Hayward (7)
Spectrum Center 0
1–2
4
December 30
@ Dallas
W 118–99
LaMelo Ball (22)
Miles Bridges (16)
Ball, Graham (5)
American Airlines Center 0
2–2 :
January
: 7–9 (home: 4–4; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
January 1
Memphis
L 93–108
Bismack Biyombo (16)
LaMelo Ball (6)
Bismack Biyombo (12)
Spectrum Center 0
2–3
6
January 2
@ Philadelphia
L 112–127
Terry Rozier (35)
Devonte' Graham (9)
Bismack Biyombo (9)
Wells Fargo Center 0
2–4
7
January 4
@ Philadelphia
L 101–118
Gordon Hayward (18)
Hayward, Washington (8)
LaMelo Ball (9)
Wells Fargo Center 0
2–5
8
January 6
@ Atlanta
W 102–94
Gordon Hayward (44)
P. J. Washington (10)
Devonte' Graham (7)
State Farm Arena 0
3–5
9
January 8
@ New Orleans
W 118–110
Gordon Hayward (26)
LaMelo Ball (10)
LaMelo Ball (9)
Smoothie King Center 759
4–5
10
January 9
Atlanta
W 113–105
Terry Rozier (23)
LaMelo Ball (12)
Lamelo Ball (11)
Spectrum Center 0
5–5
11
January 11
New York
W 109–88
Gordon Hayward (34)
LaMelo Ball (14)
Ball, Graham (7)
Spectrum Center 0
6–5
12
January 13
Dallas
L 93–104
Terry Rozier (18)
P. J. Washington (10)
Devonte' Graham (7)
Spectrum Center 0
6–6
13
January 14
@ Toronto
L 108–111
Terry Rozier (22)
P. J. Washington (11)
LaMelo Ball (7)
Amalie Arena 0
6–7
14
January 16
@ Toronto
L 113–116
Gordon Hayward (25)
P. J. Washington (12)
Devonte' Graham (7)
Amalie Arena 0
6–8
January 20
Washington
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: February 7)
15
January 22
Chicago
L 110–123
Gordon Hayward (34)
Bismack Biyombo (10)
Devonte' Graham (6)
Spectrum Center 0
6–9
16
January 24
@ Orlando
W 107–104
Gordon Hayward (39)
Gordon Hayward (9)
LaMelo Ball (8)
Amway Center 0
7–9
17
January 25
@ Orlando
L 108–117
Hayward, Rozier (24)
Biyombo, Zeller (7)
Ball, Hayward, Washington (4)
Amway Center 3,167
7–10
18
January 27
Indiana
L 106–116
Terry Rozier (20)
Cody Zeller (14)
Ball, Graham (5)
Spectrum Center 0
7–11
19
January 29
Indiana
W 108–105
Rozier, Washington (19)
P. J. Washington (9)
Devonte' Graham (10)
Spectrum Center 0
8–11
20
January 30
Milwaukee
W 126–114
Ball, Hayward (27)
Cody Zeller (15)
LaMelo Ball (9)
Spectrum Center 0
9–11 :
February: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
21
February 1
@ Miami
W 129–121
Malik Monk (36)
Cody Zeller (12)
LaMelo Ball (7)
American Airlines Arena 0
10–11
22
February 3
Philadelphia
L 111–118
Ball, Hayward (22)
Bridges, Zeller (8)
Gordon Hayward (9)
Spectrum Center 0
10–12
23
February 5
Utah
L 121–138
LaMelo Ball (34)
Gordon Hayward (10)
LaMelo Ball (8)
Spectrum Center 0
10–13
24
February 7
Washington
W 119–97
Terry Rozier (26)
Miles Bridges (14)
LaMelo Ball (5)
Spectrum Center 0
11–13
25
February 8
Houston
W 119–94
LaMelo Ball (24)
Miles Bridges (10)
LaMelo Ball (10)
Spectrum Center 0
12–13
26
February 10
@ Memphis
L 114–130
Terry Rozier (34)
Miles Bridges (10)
LaMelo Ball (5)
FedEx Forum 1,830
12–14
27
February 12
Minnesota
W 120–114
Terry Rozier (41)
LaMelo Ball (11)
Gordon Hayward (5)
Spectrum Center 0
13–14
28
February 14
San Antonio
L 110–122
Terry Rozier (33)
Ball, Zeller (12)
LaMelo Ball (8)
Spectrum Center 0
13–15
February 17
Chicago
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: May 6)
February 19
Denver
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: May 11)
29
February 20
Golden State
W 102–100
Terry Rozier (36)
Hayward, McDaniels (7)
LaMelo Ball (7)
Spectrum Center 0
14–15
30
February 22
@ Utah
L 111–132
Ball, Hayward (21)
Ball, Zeller (7)
Ball, Washington (4)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 3,902
14–16
31
February 24
@ Phoenix
W 124–121
Malik Monk (29)
Bismack Biyombo (11)
LaMelo Ball (8)
Phoenix Suns Arena 3,296
15–16
32
February 26
@ Golden State
L 121–130
Malik Monk (25)
P. J. Washington (10)
LaMelo Ball (6)
Chase Center 0
15–17
33
February 28
@ Sacramento
W 127–126
P. J. Washington (42)
Bridges, Washington (9)
LaMelo Ball (12)
Golden 1 Center 0
16–17 :
March: 8–5 (home: 4–1; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
34
March 1
@ Portland
L 111–123
LaMelo Ball (30)
Cody Martin (9)
LaMelo Ball (8)
Moda Center 0
16–18
35
March 3
@ Minnesota
W 135–102
Terry Rozier (31)
Miles Bridges (10)
Gordon Hayward (9)
Target Center 0
17–18
36
March 11
Detroit
W 105–102
P. J. Washington (20)
P. J. Washington (9)
LaMelo Ball (9)
Spectrum Center 0
18–18
37
March 13
Toronto
W 114–104
LaMelo Ball (23)
LaMelo Ball (9)
LaMelo Ball (6)
Spectrum Center 2,861
19–18
38
March 15
Sacramento
W 122–116
Terry Rozier (26)
Bismack Biyombo (10)
Cody Zeller (6)
Spectrum Center 2,861
20–18
39
March 17
@ Denver
L 104–129
Terry Rozier (21)
P. J. Washington (6)
Gordon Hayward (6)
Ball Arena 0
20–19
40
March 18
@ L. A. Lakers
L 105–116
LaMelo Ball (26)
Bridges, Hayward (9)
Gordon Hayward (10)
Staples Center 0
20–20
41
March 20
@ L. A. Clippers
L 98–125
Miles Bridges (21)
Gordon Hayward (8)
Terry Rozier (5)
Staples Center 0
20–21
42
March 22
@ San Antonio
W 100–97
Gordon Hayward (27)
P. J. Washington (13)
Hayward, Rozier (6)
AT&T Center 3,222
21–21
43
March 24
@ Houston
W 122–97
Terry Rozier (25)
P. J. Washington (12)
Monk, Rozier, Washington (4)
Toyota Center 3,163
22–21
44
March 26
Miami
W 110–105
Malik Monk (32)
Gordon Hayward (9)
Terry Rozier (11)
Spectrum Center 4,215
23–21
45
March 28
Phoenix
L 97–101
Devonte' Graham (30)
Bridges, Washington (12)
Cody Martin (4)
Spectrum Center 3,850
23–22
46
March 30
@ Washington
W 114–104
Terry Rozier (27)
Cody Zeller (13)
Graham, Hayward (6)
Capital One Arena 0
24–22 :
April: 6–9 (home: 3–4; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
April 1
@ Brooklyn
L 89–111
Graham, Hayward (13)
P. J. Washington (8)
Malik Monk (4)
Barclays Center 1,773
24–23
48
April 2
@ Indiana
W 114–97
Miles Bridges (23)
Miles Bridges (10)
Graham, Hayward (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
25–23
49
April 4
@ Boston
L 86–116
Terry Rozier (22)
Rozier, Zeller (7)
Devonte' Graham (6)
TD Garden 0
25–24
50
April 7
@ Oklahoma City
W 113–102
Jalen McDaniels (21)
Cody Zeller (14)
Brad Wanamaker (6)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
26–24
51
April 9
@ Milwaukee
W 127–119
Miles Bridges (26)
Cody Zeller (12)
Brad Wanamaker (7)
Fiserv Forum 3,280
27–24
52
April 11
Atlanta
L 101–105
Miles Bridges (23)
Cody Zeller (9)
Devonte' Graham (7)
Spectrum Center 4,148
27–25
53
April 13
L. A. Lakers
L 93–101
Devonte' Graham (19)
Bismack Biyombo (12)
Devonte' Graham (6)
Spectrum Center 3,676
27–26
54
April 14
Cleveland
L 90–103
Terry Rozier (22)
Bridges, Rozier, Cody Zeller (7)
Terry Rozier (8)
Spectrum Center 2,955
27–27
55
April 16
@ Brooklyn
L 115–130
Terry Rozier (27)
Miles Bridges (9)
Terry Rozier (10)
Barclays Center 1,773
27–28
56
April 18
Portland
W 109–101
Terry Rozier (34)
Rozier, Washington (8)
Terry Rozier (10)
Spectrum Center 3,880
28–28
57
April 20
@ New York
L 97–109
P. J. Washington (26)
Miles Bridges (14)
Terry Rozier (8)
Madison Square Garden 1,753
28–29
58
April 22
@ Chicago
L 91–108
Devonte' Graham (16)
Cody Zeller (6)
Terry Rozier (8)
United Center 0
28–30
59
April 23
Cleveland
W 108–102
Bridges, Rozier, Washington (25)
Bismack Biyombo (11)
Devonte' Graham (10)
Spectrum Center 4,060
29–30
60
April 25
Boston
W 125–104
Devonte' Graham (24)
P. J. Washington (12)
Terry Rozier (11)
Spectrum Center 4,493
30–30
61
April 27
Milwaukee
L 104–114
Devonte' Graham (25)
Miles Bridges (10)
Bridges, Graham, Wanamaker (6)
Spectrum Center 3,240
30–31
62
April 28
@ Boston
L 111–120
Devonte' Graham (25)
Cody Martin (9)
Graham, Rozier (7)
TD Garden 2,298
30–32 :
May: 3–7 (home: 2–5; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
63
May 1
Detroit
W 107–94
Terry Rozier (29)
Biyombo, McDaniels (9)
LaMelo Ball (8)
Spectrum Center 3,776
31–32
64
May 2
Miami
L 111–121
P. J. Washington (21)
Jalen McDaniels (9)
Bridges, Ball, Graham, Monk (5)
Spectrum Center 4,095
31–33
65
May 4
@ Detroit
W 102–99
LaMelo Ball (23)
Jalen McDaniels (12)
Ball, Rozier (6)
Little Caesars Arena 750
32–33
66
May 6
Chicago
L 99–120
P. J. Washington (24)
Terry Rozier (8)
LaMelo Ball (9)
Spectrum Center 3,769
32–34
67
May 7
Orlando
W 122–112
Terry Rozier (28)
Bismack Biyombo (11)
Ball, Rozier (6)
Spectrum Center 3,751
33–34
68
May 9
New Orleans
L 110–112
Terry Rozier (43)
P. J. Washington (12)
LaMelo Ball (5)
Spectrum Center 4,196
33–35
69
May 11
Denver
L 112–117
Devonte' Graham (31)
LaMelo Ball (12)
LaMelo Ball (7)
Spectrum Center 3,997
33–36
70
May 13
L. A. Clippers
L 90–113
LaMelo Ball (18)
Bismack Biyombo (7)
LaMelo Ball (7)
Spectrum Center 4,442
33–37
71
May 15
@ New York
L 109–118 (OT)
Miles Bridges (30)
Cody Zeller (11)
Devonte' Graham (8)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
33–38
72
May 16
@ Washington
L 110–115
Terry Rozier (22)
Rozier, Washington (9)
Terry Rozier (9)
Capital One Arena 5,333
33–39 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Play-in

2021 play-in game log Total: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1) :
Play-in: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 18
@ Indiana
L 117–144
Miles Bridges (23)
Bridges, Rozier (8)
Terry Rozier (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
0–1 :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Terry Rozier | SG | 69 | 69 | 2,383 | 302 | 293 | 87 | 26 | 1,407 | 34.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 1.3 | .4 | 20.4 |
| Bismack Biyombo | C | 66 | 36 | 1,349 | 347 | 81 | 17 | 74 | 331 | 20.4 | 5.3 | 1.2 | .3 | 1.1 | 5.0 |
| Miles Bridges | PF | 66 | 19 | 1,932 | 397 | 147 | 44 | 52 | 840 | 29.3 | 6.0 | 2.2 | .7 | .8 | 12.7 |
| P. J. Washington | PF | 64 | 61 | 1,954 | 418 | 161 | 69 | 79 | 824 | 30.5 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 12.9 |
| Devonte' Graham | PG | 55 | 44 | 1,659 | 148 | 295 | 48 | 6 | 816 | 30.2 | 2.7 | 5.4 | .9 | .1 | 14.8 |
| Caleb Martin | SF | 53 | 3 | 818 | 141 | 67 | 37 | 12 | 264 | 15.4 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .7 | .2 | 5.0 |
| Cody Martin | SF | 52 | 10 | 849 | 161 | 86 | 37 | 12 | 207 | 16.3 | 3.1 | 1.7 | .7 | .2 | 4.0 |
| LaMelo Ball | PG | 51 | 31 | 1,469 | 302 | 313 | 81 | 18 | 803 | 28.8 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 1.6 | .4 | 15.7 |
| Cody Zeller | C | 48 | 21 | 1,005 | 328 | 86 | 27 | 17 | 451 | 20.9 | 6.8 | 1.8 | .6 | .4 | 9.4 |
| Jalen McDaniels | SF | 47 | 18 | 904 | 169 | 53 | 28 | 19 | 346 | 19.2 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .6 | .4 | 7.4 |
| Gordon Hayward | SF | 44 | 44 | 1,496 | 258 | 181 | 52 | 14 | 863 | 34.0 | 5.9 | 4.1 | 1.2 | .3 | 19.6 |
| Malik Monk | SG | 42 | 0 | 878 | 101 | 87 | 19 | 4 | 490 | 20.9 | 2.4 | 2.1 | .5 | .1 | 11.7 |
| Brad Wanamaker$^†$ | PG | 22 | 0 | 428 | 39 | 75 | 17 | 5 | 151 | 19.5 | 1.8 | 3.4 | .8 | .2 | 6.9 |
| Vernon Carey Jr. | C | 19 | 4 | 115 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 46 | 6.1 | 1.4 | .1 | .1 | .3 | 2.4 |
| Nick Richards | PF | 18 | 0 | 63 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3.5 | .6 | .1 | .0 | .0 | .8 |
| Grant Riller | PG | 7 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3.9 | .1 | .4 | .1 | .0 | 2.6 |
| Nate Darling | SG | 7 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3.7 | .1 | .1 | .0 | .1 | 1.3 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 19, 2020 | To Charlotte HornetsNick Richards | To New Orleans Pelicans2024 second-round pick |
| November 29, 2020 | To Charlotte HornetsGordon Hayward 2023 second-round pick 2024 second-round pick | To Boston Celtics2022 second-round pick |
| March 25, 2021 | To Charlotte HornetsBrad Wanamaker 2022 second-round pick Cash considerations | To Golden State Warriors2025 second-round pick |

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

| Player | Signed |
| Bismack Biyombo | November 30, 2020 |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| LaMelo Ball | November 30, 2020 | Illawarra Hawks |
| Vernon Carey Jr. | November 30, 2020 | Duke Blue Devils |
| Nate Darling (TW) | November 30, 2020 | Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens |
| Nick Richards | November 30, 2020 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| Grant Riller (TW) | November 30, 2020 | College of Charleston Cougars |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Dwayne Bacon | UFA | Orlando Magic |
| Nicolas Batum | Waived | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Willy Hernangomez | UFA | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Ray Spalding | Waived | Houston Rockets |