# 2003–04 New Orleans Hornets season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Hornets' second season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Hornets signed free agent Steve Smith. Despite losing Jamal Mashburn for the first 44 games due to a knee injury, the Hornets got off to a solid 17–7 start to the season under new head coach Tim Floyd. However, they would struggle posting a losing record in January, and only managed to play .500 ball in February. Mashburn would return to play just 19 games averaging 20.8 points per game, but then re-injured his knee sitting out the rest of the season. The Hornets struggled losing 11 of their 16 games in March, but would rebound in April winning 4 of 7 games.
Despite posting an average record of 41–41, the Hornets finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, and qualified for their fifth straight playoff appearance. This was also the team's final season in the NBA's Eastern Conference. Baron Davis was again hampered by injuries and he played just 67 games. Despite another injury-plagued season, Davis and teammate Jamaal Magloire both represented the Eastern Conference at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
In the playoffs, they faced the Miami Heat in the first round, but lost in seven games. Following the season, the Hornets moved to the new Southwest Division of the NBA's Western Conference. Also following the season, Floyd was fired as coach after just one season, Smith left in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft, Stacey Augmon signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, and Robert Traylor re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 18 | David West | PF | United States | Xavier |
| 2 | 48 | James Lang | | United States | |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Point guard Courtney Alexander missed the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 34–7 | 27–14 | 20–8 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 | 31–10 | 23–18 | 17–11 |
| x-New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 14–14 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 27–14 | 14–27 | 15–13 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 | 23–18 | 12–29 | 14–14 |
| Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | 18–23 | 15–26 | 11–17 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 | 18–23 | 10–31 | 10–18 |
| Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 | 14–27 | 9–32 | 11–17 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-New Jersey Nets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 14 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 19 |
| 5 | x-New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 7 | x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 8 | x-Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 25 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 |
| 10 | Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
| 11 | Philadelphia 76ers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
| 12 | Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 |
| 13 | Washington Wizards | 25 | 57 | .305 | 36 |
| 14 | Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 |
| 15 | Orlando Magic | 21 | 61 | .256 | 40 |

### Record vs. opponents

2003-04 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

2004 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18
@ Miami
L 79–81
Baron Davis (17)
Brown, Magloire (11)
Augmon, Davis (4)
American Airlines Arena 20,102
0–1
2
April 21
@ Miami
L 63–93
Baron Davis (13)
Jamaal Magloire (10)
Baron Davis (7)
American Airlines Arena 20,189
0–2
3
April 24
Miami
W 77–71
Baron Davis (21)
Brown, Lynch (11)
Baron Davis (5)
New Orleans Arena 14,251
1–2
4
April 27
Miami
W 96–85
Baron Davis (23)
Brown, West (7)
Baron Davis (10)
New Orleans Arena 16,009
2–2
5
April 30
@ Miami
L 83–87
Baron Davis (33)
P. J. Brown (13)
Baron Davis (7)
American Airlines Arena 20,147
2–3
6
May 2
Miami
W 89–83
Brown, Lynch (16)
Brown, Magloire (9)
Baron Davis (12)
New Orleans Arena 17,297
3–3
7
May 4
@ Miami
L 77–85
Steve Smith (25)
Jamaal Magloire (10)
Davis, Williams (4)
American Airlines Arena 20,286
3–4 :
2004 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Darrell Armstrong | 79 | 22 | 28.4 | 39.5 | 31.5 | 85.4 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| Stacey Augmon | 69 | 24 | 20.5 | 41.2 | 14.3 | 79.1 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| P.J. Brown | 80 | 80 | 34.4 | 47.6 | 0.0 | 85.4 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 10.5 |
| Tierre Brown | 3 | 0 | 5.7 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Maurice Carter | 6 | 0 | 10.0 | 28.6 | 37.5 | 62.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| Baron Davis | 67 | 66 | 40.1 | 39.5 | 32.1 | 67.3 | 4.3 | 7.5 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 22.9 |
| Bryce Drew | 15 | 0 | 5.2 | 22.2 | 14.3 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| George Lynch | 78 | 51 | 21.8 | 39.7 | 30.9 | 66.7 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 4.8 |
| Jamaal Magloire | 82 | 82 | 33.9 | 47.3 | 0.0 | 75.1 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 13.6 |
| Jamal Mashburn | 19 | 18 | 38.4 | 39.2 | 28.4 | 81.3 | 6.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| Sean Rooks | 35 | 0 | 9.3 | 36.2 | 0.0 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.3 |
| Steve Smith | 71 | 4 | 13.1 | 40.6 | 40.2 | 92.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
| Robert Traylor | 71 | 0 | 13.3 | 50.5 | 40.0 | 54.7 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 5.1 |
| David Wesley | 61 | 60 | 32.8 | 38.9 | 32.3 | 75.3 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.0 |
| David West | 71 | 1 | 13.1 | 47.4 | 0.0 | 71.3 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 3.8 |
| Shammond Williams | 16 | 2 | 14.9 | 34.6 | 19.2 | 84.6 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 4.5 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Darrell Armstrong | 7 | 0 | 21.4 | 23.5 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3.4 |
| Stacey Augmon | 7 | 0 | 24.0 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 88.9 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 7.4 |
| P.J. Brown | 7 | 7 | 36.6 | 36.6 | 0.0 | 90.9 | 9.7 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 8.9 |
| Maurice Carter | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Baron Davis | 7 | 7 | 37.1 | 37.7 | 32.7 | 75.8 | 4.1 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 18.1 |
| George Lynch | 7 | 7 | 21.0 | 43.9 | 25.0 | 62.5 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 8.3 |
| Jamaal Magloire | 7 | 7 | 34.1 | 41.8 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 9.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 11.0 |
| Steve Smith | 5 | 0 | 9.2 | 46.2 | 54.5 | 66.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.4 |
| Robert Traylor | 4 | 0 | 10.0 | 44.4 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
| David Wesley | 7 | 7 | 34.7 | 32.4 | 36.7 | 71.4 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 10.6 |
| David West | 7 | 0 | 15.9 | 53.6 | 0.0 | 84.6 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 5.9 |
| Shammond Williams | 3 | 0 | 6.0 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 |

## Awards and records

* Baron Davis, All-NBA Third Team

## Transactions
### Trades

| February 19, 2004 | To New Orleans HornetsShammond WilliamsTo Orlando MagicSean Rooks |

### Free agents

Additions :
| Player | Date signed | Former team |
| Sean Rooks | July 21 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Darrell Armstrong | July 29 | Orlando Magic |
| Steve Smith | October 29 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Tierre Brown (10-day) | January 26 | North Charleston Lowgators (D-League) |
| Maurice Carter | March 25 | Dakota Wizards (CBA) |
Subtractions :
| Player | Date waived | New Team |
| James Lang | December 29 | Oklahoma Storm (USBL) |
| Bryce Drew | March 2 | Viola Reggio Calabria (Italy) |