2001–02 Charlotte Hornets season

2001–02 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coachPaul Silas
General managerBob Bass
OwnerGeorge Shinn Ray Wooldridge
ArenaCharlotte Coliseum
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Nets 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWJZY
RadioWBT

The 2001–02 Charlotte Hornets season was the 14th, and final season for the original Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Hornets acquired George Lynch and Robert Traylor from the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade,[2][3][4] and signed free agents Stacey Augmon,[5] Bryce Drew and three-point specialist Matt Bullard.[6][7]

The Hornets struggled playing around .500 in winning percentage in the first half of the regular season, holding a 23–25 record at the All-Star break.[8] Jamal Mashburn only played just 40 games due to a lower abdominal strain,[9][10][11] and was replaced with second-year forward Lee Nailon as the team's starting small forward. Despite losing Mashburn, the Hornets posted a seven-game winning streak in March, and finished in second place in the Central Division with a 44–38 record, earning the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualifying for their seventh NBA playoff appearance.[12]

Mashburn averaged 21.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, while Baron Davis continued to show improvement, averaging 18.1 points, 8.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and leading the Hornets with 170 three-point field goals, and David Wesley provided the team with 14.2 points and 3.5 assists per game. In addition, Elden Campbell contributed 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, while Nailon provided with 10.8 points per game, and P.J. Brown averaged 8.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Off the bench, second-year center Jamaal Magloire averaged 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Augmon contributed 4.6 points per game, and Lynch provided with 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.[13]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Davis was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.[14][15][16] Meanwhile, Nailon was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team.[17][18]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2002 NBA playoffs, the Hornets faced off against the 5th–seeded Orlando Magic, who were led by All-Star guard Tracy McGrady, second-year star Mike Miller, and Darrell Armstrong. Despite both teams finishing with the same regular-season record, the Hornets had home-court advantage in the series. The Hornets won Game 1 over the Magic at home, 80–79 at the Charlotte Coliseum, despite losing Mashburn to injury for the remainder of the playoffs, but then lost Game 2 at home in overtime, 111–103 as the Magic evened the series. The Hornets managed to win the next two games on the road, which included a Game 4 win over the Magic at the TD Waterhouse Centre, 102–85 to win the series in four games.[19][20][21]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion New Jersey Nets, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Jason Kidd, second-year star Kenyon Martin, and Keith Van Horn. The Nets took a 2–0 series lead, but the Hornets managed to win Game 3 at the Charlotte Coliseum, 115–97. However, the Hornets lost the next two games, including a Game 5 road loss to the Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena, 103–95, thus losing the series in five games.[22][23][24] The Nets would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but would lose to the 2-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep in the 2002 NBA Finals.[25][26][27] Following the season, Nailon and Bullard were both released to free agency.

This was also the Hornets' final season in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the team relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, and became the New Orleans Hornets the following season;[28][29][30] other city candidates for the team's relocation included Louisville, Kentucky, Norfolk, Virginia, St. Louis, Missouri and Anaheim, California.[31][32][33] In addition, it was also their final season in which the team played their home games at the Charlotte Coliseum. The Hornets' home-game attendance continued to decrease as the team finished last in the NBA, with an attendance of 462,738 at the Charlotte Coliseum during the regular season, which was 29th in the league;[13][34] the team also posted a better 23–18 road record than their 21–20 record at home.[35][29] The Hornets' low attendance was a stark contrast to their earlier years in Charlotte, in which they led the league in home-game attendance eight times in the franchise's first nine seasons in the NBA (their 1988–89 inaugural season, and the 1990–91 to 1996–97 seasons).

The city of Charlotte would return to the NBA two seasons later with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who began play in the 2004–05 season; that franchise changed its name to the "Hornets" in 2014 after the original franchise renamed itself the "Pelicans", and also reclaimed the original Hornets' history from 1988 to 2002. As a result, the Hornets are now reckoned as having suspended operations after this season before returning as the Bobcats in 2004, while the relocated franchise is retroactively deemed as a 2002 expansion team.

As of 2026, this was the last season in which the Charlotte Hornets have won an NBA playoff series.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 2001 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 16 Kirk Haston PF  United States Indiana

Roster

2001–02 Charlotte Hornets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G/F 2 Stacey Augmon 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–08–01 UNLV
F/C 42 P.J. Brown 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1969–10–14 Louisiana Tech
F 50 Matt Bullard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa
F/C 5 Elden Campbell 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–07–23 Clemson
G 1 Baron Davis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1979–04–13 UCLA
G 17 Bryce Drew 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1974–09–21 Valparaiso
F/C 35 Kirk Haston 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1979–03–10 Indiana
F 9 George Lynch 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1970–09–03 North Carolina
C 21 Jamaal Magloire 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 259 lb (117 kg) 1978–05–21 Kentucky
F 24 Jamal Mashburn 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972–11–29 Kentucky
C 6 Jérôme Moïso 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1978–06–15 UCLA
F 54 Lee Nailon 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1975–02–22 TCU
F 34 Robert Traylor 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 284 lb (129 kg) 1977–02–01 Michigan
G 4 David Wesley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: November 19, 2001

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 – 26–15 24–17 20–8
x-Charlotte Hornets 44 38 .537 6 21–20 23–18 17–11
x-Toronto Raptors 42 40 .512 8 24–17 18–23 17–11
x-Indiana Pacers 42 40 .512 8 25–16 17–24 13–15
e-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 9 25–16 16–25 17–11
e-Atlanta Hawks 33 49 .402 17 23–18 10–31 11–17
e-Cleveland Cavaliers 29 53 .354 21 20–21 9–32 12–16
e-Chicago Bulls 21 61 .256 29 14–27 7–34 5–23
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-New Jersey Nets 52 30 .634 –
2 y-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 2
3 x-Boston Celtics 49 33 .598 3
4 x-Charlotte Hornets 44 38 .537 8
5 x-Orlando Magic 44 38 .537 8
6 x-Philadelphia 76ers 43 39 .524 9
7 x-Toronto Raptors 42 40 .512 10
8 x-Indiana Pacers 42 40 .512 10
9 e-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 11
10 e-Washington Wizards 37 45 .451 15
11 e-Miami Heat 36 46 .439 16
12 e-Atlanta Hawks 33 49 .402 19
13 e-New York Knicks 30 52 .366 22
14 e-Cleveland Cavaliers 29 53 .354 23
15 e-Chicago Bulls 21 61 .256 31
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

2002 playoff game log
Total: 4–5 (home: 2–2; road: 2–3)
First Round: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 20 Orlando W 80–79 Baron Davis (28) P. J. Brown (15) Baron Davis (7) Charlotte Coliseum
9,505 		1–0
2 April 23 Orlando L 103–111 (OT) Elden Campbell (27) Elden Campbell (13) Baron Davis (10) Charlotte Coliseum
10,323 		1–1
3 April 27 @ Orlando W 110–100 (OT) Baron Davis (33) Baron Davis (14) Baron Davis (10) TD Waterhouse Centre
16,754 		2–1
4 April 30 @ Orlando W 102–85 Baron Davis (28) Baron Davis (11) Baron Davis (10) TD Waterhouse Centre
16,254 		3–1
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 @ New Jersey L 93–99 Baron Davis (23) P. J. Brown (9) David Wesley (7) Continental Airlines Arena
19,071 		0–1
2 May 7 @ New Jersey L 88–102 Baron Davis (21) George Lynch (11) Baron Davis (7) Continental Airlines Arena
20,049 		0–2
3 May 9 New Jersey W 115–97 Baron Davis (26) George Lynch (12) Baron Davis (8) Charlotte Coliseum
11,363 		1–2
4 May 12 New Jersey L 79–89 Baron Davis (20) P. J. Brown (16) Baron Davis (6) Charlotte Coliseum
13,864 		1–3
5 May 15 @ New Jersey L 95–103 Magloire, Nailon (14) George Lynch (13) Baron Davis (8) Continental Airlines Arena
20,049 		1–4
2002 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Baron Davis PG 82 82 3,318 349 698 172 47 1,484 40.5 4.3 8.5 2.1 .6 18.1
Jamaal Magloire C 82 8 1,549 461 31 27 86 699 18.9 5.6 .4 .3 1.0 8.5
P. J. Brown C 80 80 2,563 786 107 59 78 669 32.0 9.8 1.3 .7 1.0 8.4
Lee Nailon SF 79 41 1,912 291 94 59 17 851 24.2 3.7 1.2 .7 .2 10.8
Elden Campbell PF 77 74 2,156 530 102 60 137 1,074 28.0 6.9 1.3 .8 1.8 13.9
Stacey Augmon SG 77 3 1,319 225 103 56 12 357 17.1 2.9 1.3 .7 .2 4.6
David Wesley SG 67 63 2,487 143 236 74 15 951 37.1 2.1 3.5 1.1 .2 14.2
Robert Traylor PF 61 1 678 187 37 24 37 228 11.1 3.1 .6 .4 .6 3.7
Bryce Drew PG 61 0 774 72 101 32 2 210 12.7 1.2 1.7 .5 .0 3.4
George Lynch SF 45 18 893 186 54 40 14 172 19.8 4.1 1.2 .9 .3 3.8
Jamal Mashburn SF 40 40 1,601 242 171 45 6 858 40.0 6.1 4.3 1.1 .2 21.5
Matt Bullard PF 31 0 350 47 16 2 2 105 11.3 1.5 .5 .1 .1 3.4
Kirk Haston PF 15 0 77 20 5 0 1 26 5.1 1.3 .3 .0 .1 1.7
Jérôme Moïso C 15 0 76 25 4 3 2 16 5.1 1.7 .3 .2 .1 1.1
Eldridge Recasner† SG 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.0 .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
Baron Davis PG 9 9 401 63 71 32 5 203 44.6 7.0 7.9 3.6 .6 22.6
David Wesley SG 9 9 377 17 31 10 2 142 41.9 1.9 3.4 1.1 .2 15.8
P. J. Brown C 9 9 331 86 14 6 12 92 36.8 9.6 1.6 .7 1.3 10.2
Elden Campbell PF 9 9 254 60 16 6 23 122 28.2 6.7 1.8 .7 2.6 13.6
George Lynch SF 9 7 286 76 14 10 6 69 31.8 8.4 1.6 1.1 .7 7.7
Lee Nailon SF 9 1 160 24 6 3 0 69 17.8 2.7 .7 .3 .0 7.7
Stacey Augmon SG 9 0 152 27 13 10 1 48 16.9 3.0 1.4 1.1 .1 5.3
Jamaal Magloire C 8 0 168 45 5 0 15 98 21.0 5.6 .6 .0 1.9 12.3
Robert Traylor PF 8 0 62 16 3 2 2 18 7.8 2.0 .4 .3 .3 2.3
Bryce Drew PG 2 0 5 0 2 0 0 2 2.5 .0 1.0 .0 .0 1.0
Kirk Haston PF 2 0 4 1 0 1 0 2 2.0 .5 .0 .5 .0 1.0
Jamal Mashburn SF 1 1 10 1 1 0 0 0 10.0 1.0 1.0 .0 .0 .0

Transactions

  • June 14, 2001

Traded a 2001 2nd round draft pick (Sean Lampley was later selected) to the Chicago Bulls for Roberto Dueñas.

  • July 24, 2001

Signed Bryce Drew as a free agent.

  • July 25, 2001

Signed Stacey Augmon as a free agent.

  • August 13, 2001

Signed Matt Bullard as a free agent.

  • October 25, 2001

As part of a 3-team trade, the Charlotte Hornets traded Derrick Coleman to the Philadelphia 76ers; the Charlotte Hornets traded cash to the Golden State Warriors; the Golden State Warriors traded Chris Porter to the Charlotte Hornets; the Golden State Warriors traded Corie Blount and Vonteego Cummings to the Philadelphia 76ers; the Philadelphia 76ers traded George Lynch, Jérôme Moïso and Robert Traylor to the Charlotte Hornets; and the Philadelphia 76ers traded Cedric Henderson and a 2005 1st round draft pick (Joey Graham was later selected) to the Golden State Warriors.

  • October 26, 2001

Waived Chris Porter.

  • October 29, 2001

Waived Tim James.

  • November 19, 2001

Waived Eldridge Recasner.

Player Transactions Citation:[36]

References

  1. ^ "Charlotte Hornets (1988-2002)". Sports Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  2. ^ "Coleman Returns to Sixers; Hornets Get Lynch". ESPN. Associated Press. October 26, 2001. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Coleman Returns to the 76ers in Trade". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 26, 2001. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "76ers Get Coleman in Three-Team Deal". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 26, 2001. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Augmon Signs with Hornets". United Press International. July 25, 2001. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Brown Goes to Miami". Orlando Sentinel. August 14, 2001. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  9. ^ "Hornets' Mashburn to Be Re-Examined". Midland Daily News. January 1, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "Hornets F Jamal Mashburn Makes Successful Return Monday". ESPN. Ticker. February 19, 2002. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Fryer, Jenna (May 11, 2002). "Headache of a Series". South Coast Today. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "2001–02 Charlotte Hornets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "2001–02 Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "NBA All-Star Game Rosters". United Press International. February 8, 2002. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Rookie Challenge Today". The Daily Gazette. February 9, 2002. p. D3. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  18. ^ "2002 NBA Rising Stars: Rookies 103, Sophomores 97". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  19. ^ "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Davis Leads Hornets Into Second Round". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Davis and Hornets Put Magic to Rest". The Washington Post. May 1, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  21. ^ "2002 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Magic vs. Hornets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Robbins, Liz (May 16, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Reach Another Milestone". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  23. ^ Alexander Nichols, Rachel (May 16, 2002). "No Kidding: Nets Are in East Finals". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "2002 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Hornets vs. Nets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  25. ^ "Lakers Sweep Nets for Another Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 13, 2002. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  26. ^ Brown, Tim (June 13, 2002). "O'Neal Is a Three-Peat MVP as Lakers Finally Cut Down the Nets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  27. ^ "2002 NBA Finals: Nets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "Hornets' Move Receives Initial Approval". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 3, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "NBA Allows Hornets to Move to New Orleans". ESPN. Associated Press. May 10, 2002. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Teaford, Elliott (May 11, 2002). "Hornets on Way to New Orleans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  31. ^ "Report: Hornets to New Orleans". BlueRidgeNow. Associated Press. January 9, 2002. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  32. ^ "Hornets Owners Pursue Relocation Efforts". ESPN. Associated Press. January 11, 2002. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  33. ^ "Hornets Seeking Move to New Orleans". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 16, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "2001–02 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Broussard, Chris (May 9, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Hornets Face Home-Court Disadvantage". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  36. ^ "2001–02 Charlotte Hornets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
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