1991–92 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the fourth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Hornets won the NBA draft lottery, and selected power forward Larry Johnson from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft.^[2][3][4][5]

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
Local media
Television	WCCB SportSouth (Steve Martin, Gerry Vaillancourt)
Radio	WBT (Matt Pinto, Gil McGregor)
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

Under new head coach Allan Bristow, the Hornets would get off to a slow start losing 8 of their first 9 games of the regular season. At mid-season, the team traded Rex Chapman to the Washington Bullets in exchange for Tom Hammonds, who was out for the remainder of the season due to a groin injury he sustained with the Bullets.^[6][7][8] The Hornets won 9 of 13 games in February, but finished tied in last place in the Central Division with a record of 31 wins and 51 losses, a five-game improvement over the previous season.^[9]

Johnson averaged 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team;^[10][11] he also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during the NBA All-Star weekend in Orlando, Florida.^[12] 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.^[13] 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. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 54 Michael Ansley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–02–08 Alabama PG 1 Muggsy Bogues 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 136 lb (62 kg) 1965–01–09 Wake Forest SG 30 Dell Curry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–06–25 Virginia Tech SF 24 Anthony Frederick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1964–12–07 Pepperdine PF 33 Kenny Gattison 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1964–05–23 Old Dominion SF 13 Kendall Gill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–05–25 Illinois C 42 Mike Gminski 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1959–08–03 Duke PF 12 Tom Hammonds (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech PF 2 Larry Johnson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–03–14 UNLV C 45 Eric Leckner 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1966–05–27 Wyoming PG 9 Kevin Lynch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–12–24 Minnesota SF 22 Johnny Newman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–28 Richmond PG 21 Elliot Perry 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis C 34 J. R. Reid 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina

Head coach Allan Bristow Assistant(s) T. R. Dunn Bill Hanzlik Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster Updated: February 20, 1992

Roster Notes

• Power forward Tom Hammonds was acquired by the Hotnets from the Washington Bullets in a mid-season trade, but was placed on the injured reserve list due to a groin injury he sustained with the Bullets, and did not play with the Hornets this season.

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

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Larry Johnson	PF	82	77	3,047	899	292	81	51	1,576	37.2	11.0	3.6	1.0	.6	19.2
Kenny Gattison	PF	82	71	2,223	580	131	59	69	1,042	27.1	7.1	1.6	.7	.8	12.7
Muggsy Bogues	PG	82	69	2,790	235	743	170	6	730	34.0	2.9	9.1	2.1	.1	8.9
Kendall Gill	SG	79	79	2,906	402	329	154	46	1,622	36.8	5.1	4.2	1.9	.6	20.5
Dell Curry	SG	77	0	2,020	259	177	93	20	1,209	26.2	3.4	2.3	1.2	.3	15.7
Anthony Frederick	SF	66	26	852	144	71	40	26	389	12.9	2.2	1.1	.6	.4	5.9
Eric Leckner	C	59	2	716	206	31	9	18	196	12.1	3.5	.5	.2	.3	3.3
Johnny Newman	SF	55	55	1,651	179	146	70	14	839	30.0	3.3	2.7	1.3	.3	15.3
Kevin Lynch	SG	55	3	819	85	83	37	9	224	14.9	1.5	1.5	.7	.2	4.1
J. R. Reid	C	51	7	1,257	317	81	49	23	560	24.6	6.2	1.6	1.0	.5	11.0
Elliot Perry†	PG	40	0	371	32	64	25	2	113	9.3	.8	1.6	.6	.1	2.8
Mike Gminski	C	35	10	499	118	31	11	16	202	14.3	3.4	.9	.3	.5	5.8
Rex Chapman†	PG	21	11	545	54	86	14	8	260	26.0	2.6	4.1	.7	.4	12.4
Greg Grant†	PG	13	0	57	4	18	8	0	1	4.4	.3	1.4	.6	.0	.1
Ronnie Grandison	PF	3	0	25	11	1	1	1	10	8.3	3.7	.3	.3	.3	3.3
Tony Massenburg†	PF	3	0	13	4	0	1	0	1	4.3	1.3	.0	.3	.0	.3
Michael Ansley†	SF	2	0	13	2	0	0	0	6	6.5	1.0	.0	.0	.0	3.0
Cedric Hunter	PG	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

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.

^[14]