1991–92 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Charlotte Hornets' fourth season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] With the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, the Hornets selected UNLV star Larry Johnson.^[2][3] Under new head coach Allan Bristow, the Hornets would get off to a slow start losing 8 of their first 9 games. At midseason, the team traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets in exchange for Tom Hammonds, who was out for the season with a groin injury he sustained with the Bullets.^[4][5][6] The Hornets would get stronger winning 9 of 13 games in February, on their way to finishing sixth in the Central Division with a record of 31 wins and 51 losses, a five-game improvement over the previous season.^[7]

1991–92 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coach	Allan Bristow
General manager	Dave Twardzik
Owner(s)	George Shinn
Arena	Charlotte Coliseum
Results
Record	31–51 (.378)
Place	Division: 7th (Central) Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WCCB SportSouth (Steve Martin, Gerry Vaillancourt)
Radio	WBT (Matt Pinto, Gil McGregor)
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

Johnson averaged 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, as he won the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year Award,^[8][9] and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He also participated in the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Orlando.^[10] In addition, second-year star Kendall Gill averaged 20.5 points and 1.9 steals per game, while sixth man Dell Curry provided the team with 15.7 points per game off the bench, and Johnny Newman contributed 15.3 points per game. Kenny Gattison averaged 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while J.R. Reid provided with 11.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, but only played 51 games due to injury, and Muggsy Bogues contributed 8.9 points, 9.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game.^[11] The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the third time in four seasons.

Draft picks

Main article: 1991 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	1	Larry Johnson	PF	United States	UNLV
2	28	Kevin Lynch	SG	United States	Minnesota

Roster

1991–92 Charlotte Hornets roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 54 Ansley, Michael 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–02–08 Alabama PG 1 Bogues, Muggsy (C) 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 136 lb (62 kg) 1965–01–09 Wake Forest SG 30 Curry, Dell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–06–25 Virginia Tech SF 24 Frederick, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1964–12–07 Pepperdine PF 33 Gattison, Kenny 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1964–05–23 Old Dominion SF 13 Gill, Kendall 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–05–25 Illinois C 42 Gminski, Mike 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1959–08–03 Duke PF 12 Hammonds, Tom   (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech PF 2 Johnson, Larry (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–03–14 UNLV C 45 Leckner, Eric 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1966–05–27 Wyoming PG 9 Lynch, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–12–24 Minnesota SF 22 Newman, Johnny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–28 Richmond PG 21 Perry, Elliot 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis C 34 Reid, J. R. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina	Head coach Allan Bristow Assistant coach(es) T. R. Dunn Bill Hanzlik Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive   Injured Roster Last transaction: February 20, 1992

Roster Notes

• Power forward Tom Hammonds was acquired from the Washington Bullets at midseason, but did not play for the Hornets this season due to a groin injury.

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	67	15	.817	—	36–5	31–10	22–6
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	57	25	.695	10	35–6	22–19	21–7
x-Detroit Pistons	48	34	.585	19	25–16	23–18	15–13
x-Indiana Pacers	40	42	.488	27	26–15	14–27	13–15
Atlanta Hawks	38	44	.463	29	23–18	15–26	7–21
Milwaukee Bucks	31	51	.378	36	25–16	6–35	10–18
Charlotte Hornets	31	51	.378	36	22–19	9–32	10–18

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Chicago Bulls	67	15	.817	–
2	y-Boston Celtics	51	31	.622	16
3	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	57	25	.695	10
4	x-New York Knicks	51	31	.622	16
5	x-Detroit Pistons	48	34	.585	19
6	x-New Jersey Nets	40	42	.488	27
7	x-Indiana Pacers	40	42	.488	27
8	x-Miami Heat	38	44	.463	29
9	Atlanta Hawks	38	44	.463	29
10	Philadelphia 76ers	35	47	.427	32
11	Milwaukee Bucks	31	51	.378	36
12	Charlotte Hornets	31	51	.378	36
13	Washington Bullets	25	57	.305	42
14	Orlando Magic	21	61	.256	46

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1991-92 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	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	2–2	0–5	0–5	2–0	2–0	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2
Boston	1–3	—	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	5–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	1–3	—	0–4	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–2
Chicago	5–0	3–1	4–0	—	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	3–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0
Cleveland	5–0	1–3	3–2	2–3	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	3–2	0–2	0–4	4–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	0–2
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–3	—	0–2	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–5	1–1
Detroit	4–1	0–4	4–1	1–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	3–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Golden State	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	—	2–2	2–0	3–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	5–0	2–2	3–2	1–3	2–0
Houston	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4	3–2	0–2	2–2	—	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–2	1–3	1–4	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–3	2–2	2–0	—	2–3	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–3	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–3	2–2	0–2	3–2	—	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–1
Miami	2–2	2–3	3–1	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	—	4–0	2–0	2–2	1–4	3–1	1–4	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	3–2	2–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	—	2–0	0–4	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	1–1	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	—	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–6	0–4	2–3	0–2
New Jersey	1–3	3–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	4–0	2–0	—	2–3	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	2–3	4–0	0–4	0–4	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	4–1	3–1	2–0	3–2	—	4–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0
Orlando	2–2	0–5	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–4	—	3–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–3
Philadelphia	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	1–3	2–3	—	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	5–0
Phoenix	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–3	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	4–1	3–1	3–2	2–2	2–0
Portland	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	3–2	1–3	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	—	5–0	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–5	1–3	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–4	0–5	—	1–3	1–4	1–3	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	5–0	4–1	1–1	2–2	2–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	—	3–1	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–0
Utah	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	4–1	1–3	—	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	1–3	2–0	3–2	0–4	3–2	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Michael Ansley	2	0	6.5	.429			1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0
Muggsy Bogues	82	69	34.0	.472	.074	.783	2.9	9.1	2.1	0.1	8.9
Rex Chapman	21	11	26.0	.450	.296	.679	2.6	4.1	0.7	0.4	12.4
Dell Curry	77	0	26.2	.484	.404	.836	3.4	2.3	1.2	0.3	15.7
Anthony Frederick	66	26	12.9	.435	.235	.685	2.2	1.1	0.6	0.4	5.9
Kenny Gattison	82	71	27.1	.529	.000	.688	7.1	1.6	0.7	0.8	12.7
Kendall Gill	79	79	36.8	.467	.240	.745	5.1	4.2	1.9	0.6	20.5
Mike Gminski	35	10	14.3	.452	.333	.750	3.4	0.9	0.3	0.5	5.8
Ron Grandison	3	0	8.3	.500		.600	3.7	0.3	0.3	0.3	3.3
Greg Grant	13	0	4.4	.000		.500	0.3	1.4	0.6	0.0	0.1
Cedric Hunter	1	0	1.0				0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Larry Johnson	82	77	37.2	.490	.227	.829	11.0	3.6	1.0	0.6	19.2
Eric Leckner	59	2	12.1	.513	.000	.745	3.5	0.5	0.2	0.3	3.3
Kevin Lynch	55	3	14.9	.417	.375	.761	1.5	1.5	0.7	0.2	4.1
Tony Massenburg	3	0	4.3	.000		.500	1.3	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.3
Johnny Newman	55	55	30.0	.477	.283	.766	3.3	2.7	1.3	0.3	15.3
Elliot Perry	40	0	9.3	.377	.200	.667	0.8	1.6	0.6	0.1	2.8
J.R. Reid	51	7	24.6	.490	.000	.705	6.2	1.6	1.0	0.5	11.0

Awards and records

• Larry Johnson, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
• Larry Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions

• July 15, 1991

Waived Randolph Keys.

• September 4, 1991

Signed Anthony Frederick as a free agent.

• October 10, 1991

Signed Scott Haffner as a free agent.

• October 11, 1991

Waived Scott Haffner.

• October 31, 1991

Claimed Greg Grant on waivers from the Indiana Pacers.

• November 5, 1991

Waived Kevin Lynch.

• December 9, 1991

Signed Elliot Perry as a free agent.

Waived Greg Grant.

• December 11, 1991

Signed Tony Massenburg as a free agent.

• December 30, 1991

Signed Ron Grandison as a free agent.

• January 1, 1992

Signed Ron Grandison to the first of two 10-day contracts.

• January 2, 1992

Released Michael Ansley.

• January 7, 1992

Waived Ron Grandison.

Waived Tony Massenburg.

• January 10, 1992

Signed Michael Ansley to a 10-day contract.

• February 15, 1992

Signed Cedric Hunter to a 10-day contract.

• February 19, 1992

Traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets for Tom Hammonds.

• February 20, 1992

Waived Cedric Hunter.

^[12]

References

1. "1991-92 Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats".
2. "BASKETBALL; Hornets Make Johnson No. 1 Pick in the Draft". New York Times. June 27, 1991. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
3. "UNLV's Johnson Is No. 1: NBA Draft: Coaches' Attempts in Charlotte and New Jersey to Select Billy Owens Are Overruled. Three UNLV Players Are Taken in the First Round". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 27, 1991. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
4. Aldridge, David (February 19, 1992). "Bullets Talk Chapman-Hammonds Trade". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
5. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Hornets Trade Chapman to the Bullets". The New York Times. February 20, 1992. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
6. "Hornets Trade Chapman to Bullets". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. February 20, 1992. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
7. "1991–92 Charlotte Hornets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
8. "BASKETBALL; Johnson Is Top Rookie". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 13, 1992. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
9. "NBA & ABA Rookie of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
10. Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 9, 1992). "Ceballos' Dunking Victory: Out of Sight: Contest: Former CS Fullerton Standout Makes Shot Blindfolded to Defeat Hornets' Johnson". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
11. "1991–92 Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
12. "1991–92 Charlotte Hornets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.