22
Oct
5 min read
Charlotte Hornets NBA Profile: Five things you need to know
The Hornets are a team of two eras
- Young core led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller
- New ownership group took over in 2023
- Seeking first playoff series win since original Hornets era
The Charlotte Hornets are an NBA franchise in transition, building around young talent as they aim to recapture past glories under new ownership.
Key Details
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Year Founded: 1988 (Original), 2004 (Reestablished)
Home Arena: Spectrum Center
Championships: 0
Major Rivals: Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards
Australians who have played for the Charlotte Hornets
Josh Green: Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Green was traded to the Hornets in July 2024 after spending four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. Known for his athleticism and defensive prowess, Green is expected to be a significant contributor to the Hornets' wing rotation.
Mangok Mathiang: Born in Juba, South Sudan, and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Mathiang signed a two-way contract with the Hornets in 2017. He appeared in four games during the 2017–2018 NBA season, averaging 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Mathiang spent most of his time with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets' G League affiliate.
Identity
The Hornets are focused on developing their youthful roster around dynamic playmaker LaMelo Ball and scoring wing Brandon Miller. Head coach Charles Lee, in his first season, is tasked with implementing an up-tempo style that maximses the team's athleticism and shooting. The franchise is working to build a winning culture and passionate fanbase after years of mediocrity.
Legacy & Impact
While lacking championship success, the original Hornets of the 1990s were one of the NBA's most popular teams, known for their teal uniforms and high-flying style led by players such as Larry Johnson, Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues and Alonzo Mourning. The current iteration is still seeking to make a similar impact, having yet to win a playoff series since returning to Charlotte in 2004.
Five Fast Facts
- The Hornets name comes from the Revolutionary War, when a British commander called Charlotte "a hornet's nest of rebellion"
- The franchise has had two distinct eras in Charlotte (1988-2002 and 2004-present), with a brief period as the Charlotte Bobcats
- Michael Jordan was majority owner from 2010-2023 before selling to current ownership group
- LaMelo Ball was named 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year
- The team has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs
Club Timeline
1988: Original Charlotte Hornets founded as expansion team
2002: Franchise relocates to New Orleans
2004: NBA awards new expansion franchise to Charlotte (Bobcats)
2014: Team reclaims Hornets name and history of original franchise
2023: New ownership group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall takes over
Key Statistics
All-Time Record: 1,143-1,506 (.431 win %)
Championship History: None
Hall of Fame Players: None (as Hornets)
Retired Numbers: 13 (Bobby Phills)
Notable Records: Most losses in a season (7-59, .106 win % in 2011-12 as Bobcats)
Today
The Charlotte Hornets enter the 2024-25 season with renewed optimism under first-year head coach Charles Lee. After a 21-61 campaign last year, the team is banking on the continued development of cornerstones LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to drive improvement.
Ball, a former Rookie of the Year, is looking to put injury woes behind him and reassert himself as one of the NBA's most electrifying young point guards. Miller impressed as a rookie last season and will be counted on for increased scoring and playmaking in year two. The Hornets are hopeful this backcourt duo can form the foundation of a playoff contender in the coming years.
While playoff contention may be a stretch this season, the Hornets aim to show tangible progress as they continue rebuilding. With a mix of young talent and veteran leadership, Charlotte is focused on establishing a winning culture and exciting brand of basketball that can reignite the fanbase's passion for Hornets basketball.
