Charlotte Hornets
On the 5th of April 1987, NBA Commissioner David Stern called George Shinn to inform him that his group had been awarded the 24th franchise. This call marked the beginning of a new era for professional basketball in Charlotte, North Carolina. The city had long been a hotbed for college basketball and was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States at the time. Shinn, an entrepreneur from Kannapolis, assembled a group of prominent local businessmen to head the prospective team. They secured the Charlotte Coliseum, a state-of-the-art arena that would seat almost 24,000 spectators. It became the largest basketball-specific arena ever to serve as a full-time home for an NBA team. The team officially began play in 1988 after winning a name-the-team contest that selected "Hornets" over other options like "Charlotte Spirit." The choice honored British General Cornwallis, who allegedly described the city as "a hornet's nest of rebellion" following the Battle of Charlotte in 1780.
In the 1991, 92 season, the Hornets drafted power forward Larry Johnson from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the first pick. Johnson finished among the league leaders in points and rebounds while winning the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Guard Kendall Gill led the club in scoring, averaging over 20 points per game during that same year. The team stayed in contention for a playoff spot until March but finished with a 31, 51 record. In 1992, Charlotte won the second overall pick in the draft to select Georgetown center Alonzo Mourning. This created a dynamic duo with Johnson and Mourning who formed perhaps the league's top young trio alongside Gill. They finished their fifth season at 44, 38, securing their first-ever winning record and first playoff berth in franchise history. The Hornets upset the Boston Celtics in the first round before falling to the New York Knicks in five games.
By the end of the 2001, 02 season, attendance had tailed off dramatically due to owner George Shinn's declining popularity in the city. On the 1st of May 2002, the NBA approved a deal for the team to move to New Orleans for the 2002, 03 season. The relocation came after years of fluctuating success and growing tensions between the ownership group and local fans. Shinn had previously led the team to multiple playoff appearances including a run to the conference semifinals twice. However, the financial realities of maintaining a large arena in a market that was no longer supporting the team forced the league's hand. The original Hornets played their final game in Charlotte on the 22nd of April 2002, before departing for Louisiana. The Charlotte Coliseum remained empty until the new Bobcats era began two years later.
On the 18th of December 2002, a group led by BET founder Robert L. Johnson was awarded the franchise to return basketball to Charlotte. This made him the first African American majority owner in U.S. major professional sports since the Negro leagues. The owners paid a $300 million expansion fee to enter the league. In June 2003, the team name was officially announced as the Bobcats after a naming process that drew over 1,250 suggestions. Hip-hop artist Nelly became a notable co-owner during this period. The Bobcats held their expansion draft on the 22nd of June 2004, picking up youngsters such as Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor. Their inaugural game took place on November 4 at the Charlotte Coliseum resulting in a 103, 96 loss to the Washington Wizards. Two days later they won their first game in franchise history over the Orlando Magic with an 111, 100 score.
On the 15th of June 2006, Michael Jordan acquired a minority stake in the franchise and became its managing member of basketball operations. He was a former NBA player and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. On the 17th of February 2010, an ownership group led by Jordan purchased a majority share of the franchise. This transaction allowed Jordan to become the first former NBA player to become majority owner of a franchise. Under his leadership, the team made significant changes including hiring new coaches like Larry Brown and Steve Clifford. They reached their first playoff berth since 2002 on the 9th of April 2010, with a 104, 103 road win over the New Orleans Hornets. The Bobcats finished that season with an overall record of 44, 38, marking their first-ever winning season. Gerald Wallace became the Bobcats' first and only NBA All-Star during this period before being traded to Portland.
On the 21st of May 2013, Jordan officially announced the organization had submitted an application to change the name back to Charlotte Hornets for the 2014, 15 NBA season. The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the rebranding on the 18th of July 2013. As part of the deal, Charlotte acquired the history and records of the 1988, 2002 Hornets while all records from 2002 to 2013 remained with the Pelicans. The team unveiled modified versions of the original teal-purple-white color palette with black, gray and Carolina blue accents. On November 22, they adopted these colors officially. The Bobcats officially became the second incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets on the 20th of May 2014. At a press conference regarding the change, officials confirmed that Charlotte would now be considered as having suspended operations from 2002 to 2014. This move made them statistically one continuous NBA Team alongside the New Orleans Pelicans who were treated as a separate expansion entity.
On the 18th of November 2020, the Hornets selected LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick in the draft. He was joined by Vernon Carey Jr. and Grant Riller in the second round. Ball won the 2020, 21 NBA Rookie of the Year Award becoming the third player in franchise history to win the award. On the 7th of February 2022, he was named to his first NBA All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Kevin Durant. Despite individual success, the team struggled with injuries leading to a poor season ending with a 27, 55 record in 2022, 23. Ball only played 36 games during that year while Mark Williams proved immense potential. In June 2023, Jordan announced he was selling his majority stake to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. The transaction sold at $3 billion was approved by the NBA on the 23rd of July 2023. As of 2025, the Hornets remain the only active NBA team to have never won a division title.
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Common questions
When was the Charlotte Hornets franchise awarded to George Shinn?
NBA Commissioner David Stern called George Shinn on the 5th of April 1987 to inform him that his group had been awarded the 24th franchise. This call marked the beginning of a new era for professional basketball in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Why did the original Charlotte Hornets move to New Orleans in 2002?
Attendance tailed off dramatically by the end of the 2001, 02 season due to owner George Shinn's declining popularity and financial realities of maintaining a large arena. The NBA approved a deal for the team to move to New Orleans for the 2002, 03 season after years of fluctuating success and growing tensions between the ownership group and local fans.
Who purchased the majority share of the Bobcats franchise in 2010?
An ownership group led by Michael Jordan purchased a majority share of the franchise on the 17th of February 2010. This transaction allowed Jordan to become the first former NBA player to become majority owner of a franchise.
When was the Bobcats name officially changed back to the Charlotte Hornets?
The Bobcats officially became the second incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets on the 20th of May 2014. As part of the deal, Charlotte acquired the history and records of the 1988, 2002 Hornets while all records from 2002 to 2013 remained with the Pelicans.
Which player won the 2020, 21 NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the Charlotte Hornets?
LaMelo Ball won the 2020, 21 NBA Rookie of the Year Award becoming the third player in franchise history to win the award. He was selected with the third overall pick in the draft on the 18th of November 2020.