1997–98 Charlotte Hornets season

1997–98 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coachDave Cowens
General managerBob Bass
OwnerGeorge Shinn
ArenaCharlotte Coliseum
Results
Record51–31 (.622)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Central)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Bulls 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
RadioWBT

The 1997–98 Charlotte Hornets season was the tenth season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Hornets signed free agents David Wesley,[2][3][4] and Bobby Phills,[5][6][7] while re-signing former Hornets forward J.R. Reid.[8][9] Early into the regular season, the team traded long-time Hornets guard Muggsy Bogues, and second-year guard Tony Delk to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for B. J. Armstrong, who won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s.[10][11][12]

With the addition of Wesley and Phills, the Hornets won nine of their first twelve games of the regular season, and later on held a 29–18 record at the All-Star break.[13] At mid-season, the team signed free agent Vernon Maxwell, who was previously released by the Orlando Magic.[14] Despite injuries to Phills, Vlade Divac and long-time original Hornets guard Dell Curry, the Hornets had another stellar season by posting a 10-game winning streak between February and March, winning 15 of 16 games between February 21 and March 26, 1998. The Hornets finished in third place in the Central Division with a 51–31 record, earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualified for their fourth NBA playoff appearance.[15]

Glen Rice led the Hornets in scoring with 22.3 points per game, led them with 130 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Wesley averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Anthony Mason provided the team with 12.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Phills contributed 10.4 points per game in 62 games, while Divac averaged 10.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 64 games, and Matt Geiger provided with 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Curry contributed 9.4 points per game in only 52 games, while Maxwell contributed 6.8 points per game in 31 games, Reid averaged 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, and Armstrong provided with 3.9 points and 2.3 assists per game.[16]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Rice was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his third and final All-Star appearance.[17][18][19] In addition, Rice participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the fourth consecutive year,[20][21] and also participated in the inaugural NBA 2Ball Competition, along with Andrea Stinson of the WNBA's Charlotte Sting.[22][23] Rice also finished in eleventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Mason finished tied in ninth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and Geiger finished tied in 13th place in Most Improved Player voting.[24]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1998 NBA playoffs, the Hornets faced off against the 5th–seeded Atlanta Hawks, a team that featured All-Star center, and Defensive Player of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo, All-Star guard Steve Smith, and Mookie Blaylock; Smith was Rice's former teammate on the Miami Heat. The Hornets won the first two games over the Hawks at home at the Charlotte Coliseum, before losing Game 3 on the road by a 32-point margin, 96–64 at the Georgia Dome.[25][26][27] The Hornets won Game 4 over the Hawks on the road, 91–82 to win the series in four games.[28][29][30]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, who won the Central Division title, and were led by the trio of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. After losing Game 1 to the Bulls on the road, 83–70 at the United Center, the Hornets managed to win Game 2 on the road, 78–76 to even the series.[31][32][33] However, the Hornets lost their next two home games at the Charlotte Coliseum, before losing Game 5 to the Bulls at the United Center, 93–84, thus losing the series in five games.[34][35][36] The Bulls would go on to reach the 1998 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Utah Jazz in six games to win their third consecutive NBA championship, and sixth overall in eight years.[37][38][39]

The Hornets finished second in the NBA in home-game attendance behind the Bulls, with an attendance of 959,634 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season.[16][40] On November 25, 1997, the team's sellout streak would end at 364 consecutive games (371 including post-season contests); this was the second longest active sell-out streak at the time, behind the Bulls' 465.[41][42] Following the season, Divac and Maxwell both signed as free agents with the Sacramento Kings,[43][44][45] while Curry signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after ten seasons with the Hornets,[45][46][47] and Geiger signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.[48][49][50]

For the season, the Hornets added side panels and additional pinstripes to their uniforms, which would remain in use until 2002.[51][52] As of 2026, this was the last season in which the franchise won 50 or more games during the regular season.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

The Hornets had no draft picks in 1997.

Roster

1997–98 Charlotte Hornets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 10 B. J. Armstrong 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1967–09–09 Iowa
G 15 Corey Beck 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–05–27 Arkansas
G 30 Dell Curry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–06–25 Virginia Tech
C 12 Vlade Divac 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1968–02–03 Yugoslavia
C 52 Matt Geiger 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1969–09–10 Georgia Tech
F 14 Anthony Mason 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–12–14 Tennessee State
G 11 Vernon Maxwell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida
C 42 Michael McDonald 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1969–02–13 New Orleans
G 13 Bobby Phills 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1969–12–20 Southern
F 7 J.R. Reid 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina
F 41 Glen Rice 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–05–28 Michigan
F 5 Donald Royal 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
G 4 David Wesley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
F 32 Travis Williams 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1969–05–27 South Carolina State
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: March 24, 1998

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 62 20 .756 – 37–4 25–16 21–7
x-Indiana Pacers 58 24 .707 4 32–9 26–15 19–9
x-Charlotte Hornets 51 31 .622 11 32–9 19–22 16–12
x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 12 29–12 21–20 19–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 15 27–14 20–21 14–14
Detroit Pistons 37 45 .451 25 25–16 12–29 12–16
Milwaukee Bucks 36 46 .439 26 21–20 15–26 9–19
Toronto Raptors 16 66 .195 46 9–32 7–34 2–26
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Miami Heat 55 27 .671 7
3 x-Indiana Pacers 58 24 .707 4
4 x-Charlotte Hornets 51 31 .622 11
5 x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 12
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 15
7 x-New York Knicks 43 39 .524 19
8 x-New Jersey Nets 43 39 .524 19
9 Washington Wizards 42 40 .512 20
10 Orlando Magic 41 41 .500 21
11 Detroit Pistons 37 45 .451 25
12 Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 26
13 Milwaukee Bucks 36 46 .439 26
14 Philadelphia 76ers 31 51 .378 31
15 Toronto Raptors 16 66 .195 46

Game log

Playoffs

1998 playoff game log
Total: 4–5 (home: 2–2; road: 2–3)
First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 23 Atlanta W 97–87 Glen Rice (34) Divac, Mason (7) David Wesley (12) Charlotte Coliseum
19,176 		1–0
2 April 25 Atlanta W 92–85 Anthony Mason (25) Glen Rice (13) Divac, Wesley (6) Charlotte Coliseum
20,390 		2–0
3 April 28 @ Atlanta L 64–96 Anthony Mason (12) Vlade Divac (7) Divac, Wesley (5) Georgia Dome
19,745 		2–1
4 May 1 @ Atlanta W 91–82 Anthony Mason (29) Anthony Mason (14) David Wesley (10) Georgia Dome
22,074 		3–1
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 3 @ Chicago L 70–83 Glen Rice (25) Vlade Divac (14) David Wesley (9) United Center
23,844 		0–1
2 May 6 @ Chicago W 78–76 Mason, Curry (15) Vlade Divac (19) Mason, Rice (4) United Center
23,844 		1–1
3 May 8 Chicago L 89–103 Glen Rice (31) Vlade Divac (13) David Wesley (8) Charlotte Coliseum
23,799 		1–2
4 May 10 Chicago L 80–94 Vlade Divac (15) Glen Rice (9) Anthony Mason (5) Charlotte Coliseum
23,799 		1–3
5 May 13 @ Chicago L 84–93 Glen Rice (30) Vlade Divac (15) three players tied (5) United Center
23,844 		1–4
1998 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Glen Rice SF 82 82 3,295 353 182 77 22 1,826 40.2 4.3 2.2 .9 .3 22.3
David Wesley PG 81 81 2,845 213 529 140 30 1,054 35.1 2.6 6.5 1.7 .4 13.0
Anthony Mason PF 81 80 3,148 826 342 68 18 1,039 38.9 10.2 4.2 .8 .2 12.8
J. R. Reid PF 79 1 1,109 210 51 35 19 384 14.0 2.7 .6 .4 .2 4.9
Matt Geiger C 78 42 1,839 521 78 68 87 885 23.6 6.7 1.0 .9 1.1 11.3
Vlade Divac C 64 41 1,805 518 172 83 94 667 28.2 8.1 2.7 1.3 1.5 10.4
Bobby Phills SG 62 61 1,887 216 187 81 18 642 30.4 3.5 3.0 1.3 .3 10.4
B. J. Armstrong† PG 62 0 772 69 144 25 0 244 12.5 1.1 2.3 .4 .0 3.9
Corey Beck PG 59 14 738 90 98 33 7 191 12.5 1.5 1.7 .6 .1 3.2
Dell Curry SG 52 1 971 101 69 31 4 490 18.7 1.9 1.3 .6 .1 9.4
Travis Williams SF 39 0 365 92 20 18 5 136 9.4 2.4 .5 .5 .1 3.5
Vernon Maxwell† SG 31 0 467 44 40 14 3 210 15.1 1.4 1.3 .5 .1 6.8
Donald Royal† SF 29 5 305 37 16 6 1 74 10.5 1.3 .6 .2 .0 2.6
Tony Farmer C 27 2 169 32 5 10 4 67 6.3 1.2 .2 .4 .1 2.5
Tony Delk† PG 3 0 34 2 3 0 0 8 11.3 .7 1.0 .0 .0 2.7
Muggsy Bogues† PG 2 0 16 1 4 2 0 6 8.0 .5 2.0 1.0 .0 3.0
Jeff Grayer† SG 1 0 11 0 1 0 0 0 11.0 .0 1.0 .0 .0 .0
Michael McDonald C 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 4.0 1.0 .0 .0 .0 .0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hornets only.

Playoffs

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Glen Rice SF 9 9 369 51 13 5 3 205 41.0 5.7 1.4 .6 .3 22.8
Anthony Mason PF 9 9 367 71 31 8 0 139 40.8 7.9 3.4 .9 .0 15.4
Vlade Divac C 9 9 345 98 31 7 14 104 38.3 10.9 3.4 .8 1.6 11.6
David Wesley PG 9 9 285 18 60 7 0 90 31.7 2.0 6.7 .8 .0 10.0
Bobby Phills SG 9 9 269 23 24 10 2 57 29.9 2.6 2.7 1.1 .2 6.3
Dell Curry SG 9 0 171 19 10 7 3 52 19.0 2.1 1.1 .8 .3 5.8
B. J. Armstrong PG 9 0 146 10 18 6 0 37 16.2 1.1 2.0 .7 .0 4.1
J. R. Reid PF 9 0 114 20 2 3 2 30 12.7 2.2 .2 .3 .2 3.3
Corey Beck PG 6 0 26 1 0 4 0 15 4.3 .2 .0 .7 .0 2.5
Donald Royal SF 4 0 28 4 1 0 0 9 7.0 1.0 .3 .0 .0 2.3
Matt Geiger C 4 0 22 5 1 0 0 2 5.5 1.3 .3 .0 .0 .5
Travis Williams SF 4 0 18 5 0 1 1 5 4.5 1.3 .0 .3 .3 1.3

Awards and records

Transactions

  • July 1, 1997

Released Rafael Addison.

Signed David Wesley as a free agent.

  • July 16, 1997

Signed J.R. Reid as a free agent.

  • August 19, 1997

Signed Bobby Phills as a free agent.

Released Malik Rose.

Waived Ricky Pierce.

  • September 10, 1997

Signed Tony Farmer as a free agent.

Signed Travis Williams as a free agent.

  • October 2, 1997

Signed Corey Beck as a free agent.

  • November 7, 1997

Traded Muggsy Bogues and Tony Delk to the Golden State Warriors for B. J. Armstrong.

  • January 16, 1998

Signed Donald Royal to the first of two 10-day contracts.

  • January 22, 1998

Signed Michael McDonald as a free agent.

  • February 2, 1998

Signed Jeff Grayer to a 10-day contract.

Signed Vernon Maxwell to a 10-day contract.

  • February 4, 1998

Signed Donald Royal to a contract for the rest of the season.

  • February 13, 1998

Signed Vernon Maxwell to a contract for the rest of the season.

  • March 24, 1998

Waived Tony Farmer.

Player Transactions Citation:[53]

References

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