1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season
Encyclopedia
The 1996–97
Charlotte Hornets
season was Charlotte's ninth season in the National Basketball Association
, and first under new Head Coach Dave Cowens
. The Hornets finished the season with a 54–28 record, and qualified for their third Playoff
appearance. They faced the New York Knicks
in the first round, but were swept in the best-of-five series. The Hornets led the NBA in attendance for the eighth and final time during their history in Charlotte.
, 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, Bryant expressed that he did not wish to play for the Hornets and wanted to play for the Lakers instead. Fifteen days later, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac
to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant.
and Matt Geiger
provided the best center combo in the league, Anthony Mason
averaged a double-double and earned all-NBA third team honors, and Glen Rice
had the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring and earning all-NBA second team honors. Rice also set several scoring records in the All-Star game, and was selected the game's MVP. The Hornets sported the best season of their history at the time (54 victories), making it back to the playoffs
where they were swept in the first round by the New York Knicks
.
1996-97 NBA season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association . The league used this season to mark its 50th anniversary, which included the unveiling of the league's list of its 50 greatest players...
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the...
season was Charlotte's ninth season in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, and first under new Head Coach Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
. The Hornets finished the season with a 54–28 record, and qualified for their third Playoff
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
appearance. They faced the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round, but were swept in the best-of-five series. The Hornets led the NBA in attendance for the eighth and final time during their history in Charlotte.
NBA Draft
In the 1996 NBA Draft1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association . It was held on June 26, 1996 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the Turner Network Television...
, The Hornets selected Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
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
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
general manager Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
, 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, Bryant expressed that he did not wish to play for the Hornets and wanted to play for the Lakers instead. Fifteen days later, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills...
to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school... |
F | Lower Merion HS Lower Merion High School Lower Merion High School, is an American public high school in Ardmore, a community on the Pennsylvania Main Line.It is the larger of the two high schools in Lower Merion School District, which serves both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. It was ranked among the top 60 U.S. high... |
Regular season
The new-look Hornets played better than expected: Vlade DivacVlade Divac
Vlade Divac is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills...
and Matt Geiger
Matt Geiger
Matthew Allen "Matt" Geiger is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association on the center position.-Collegiate career:...
provided the best center combo in the league, Anthony Mason
Anthony Mason (basketball)
Anthony George Douglas Mason is a retired American National Basketball Association player with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career...
averaged a double-double and earned all-NBA third team honors, and Glen Rice
Glen Rice
Glen Anthony Rice is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division...
had the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring and earning all-NBA second team honors. Rice also set several scoring records in the All-Star game, and was selected the game's MVP. The Hornets sported the best season of their history at the time (54 victories), making it back to the playoffs
1997 NBA Playoffs
The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1996–97 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning the NBA championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazzfour games to two...
where they were swept in the first round by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; STL= Steals; REB = Rebounds; AST. = Assists; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points| Player | GP | MIN | STL | REB | AST | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muggsy Bogues Muggsy Bogues Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player and former head coach of the now-defunct Charlotte Sting of the Women's National Basketball Association . The shortest player ever to play in the NBA, the Bogues played point guard for four teams during his... |
65 | 28.9 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 7.2 | 0.0 | 8.0 |
| Vlade Divac Vlade Divac Vlade Divac is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills... |
81 | 35.1 | 1.3 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 12.6 |
| Matt Geiger Matt Geiger Matthew Allen "Matt" Geiger is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association on the center position.-Collegiate career:... |
49 | 21.3 | 0.4 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.9 |
| Anthony Mason Anthony Mason (basketball) Anthony George Douglas Mason is a retired American National Basketball Association player with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career... |
73 | 43.1 | 1.0 | 11.4 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 16.2 |
| Glen Rice Glen Rice Glen Anthony Rice is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division... |
79 | 42.6 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 26.8 |
Awards
- NBA All-Star Game MVP, Glen Rice - 1997
- NBA Executive of the Year, Bob Bass - 1997
- All-NBA Second Team, Glen Rice - 1997
- All-NBA Third Team, Anthony Mason - 1997
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team, Anthony Mason - 1997