1997–98 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1997–98 NBA 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 and Bobby Phills,[2] while re-signing former Hornets forward J.R. Reid. Early into the season, they traded Muggsy Bogues to the Golden State Warriors for B. J. Armstrong, who won three championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s.[3] At midseason, the team signed free agent Vernon Maxwell, who was previously released by the Orlando Magic. Despite injuries to Phills, Vlade Divac and long-time original Hornet Dell Curry, the Hornets had another stellar season posting a ten-game winning streak between February and March, winning 15 of 16 games between February 21 and March 26. The Hornets finished the season third in the Central Division with a 51–31 record, and qualified for their fourth playoff appearance.[4]

1997–98 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coachDave Cowens
General managerBob Bass
Owner(s)George 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.com
Local media
Television
RadioWBT

Glen Rice led the team in scoring with 22.3 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,[5] 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, while Divac averaged 10.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, Matt Geiger provided with 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and Curry contributed 9.4 points per game off the bench in 52 games.[6] In the playoffs, the Hornets defeated the Atlanta Hawks 3–1 in the Eastern Conference First Round,[7] but were eliminated 1–4 by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the 2-time defending champion Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals,[8] despite winning Game 2 at the United Center 78–76.[9] The Bulls went on to reach the finals, where they defeated the Utah Jazz in six games to win their sixth championship in eight years.[10]

The Hornets finished second the NBA in attendance for the season. 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 Chicago Bulls' 465.[11] Following the season, Divac and Maxwell both signed as free agents with the Sacramento Kings,[12] while Curry signed with the Milwaukee Bucks,[13] and Geiger signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

For the season, the Hornets added side panels and additional pinstripes to their uniforms, which remained in use until 2002.[14][15]

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.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 10 Armstrong, B. J. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1967–09–09 Iowa
G 15 Beck, Corey 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–05–27 Arkansas
G 30 Curry, Dell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–06–25 Virginia Tech
C 12 Divac, Vlade 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1968–02–03 Yugoslavia
C 52 Geiger, Matt 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1969–09–10 Georgia Tech
F 14 Mason, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–12–14 Tennessee State
G 11 Maxwell, Vernon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida
C 42 McDonald, Michael 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1969–02–13 New Orleans
G 13 Phills, Bobby 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1969–12–20 Southern
F 7 Reid, J.R. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina
F 41 Rice, Glen (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–05–28 Michigan
F 5 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
G 4 Wesley, David 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
F 32 Williams, Travis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1969–05–27 South Carolina State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 24, 1998

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 6220.756–37–425–1621–7
x-Indiana Pacers 5824.707432–926–1519–9
x-Charlotte Hornets 5131.6221132–919–2216–12
x-Atlanta Hawks 5032.6101229–1221–2019–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4735.5731527–1420–2114–14
Detroit Pistons 3745.4512525–1612–2912–16
Milwaukee Bucks 3646.4392621–2015–269–19
Toronto Raptors 1666.195469–327–342–26
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
12 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546

Record vs. opponents
1997-98 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 TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2—1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1—1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1—2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2—1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1—3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3—0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0—2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2—1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1—1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1—2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2—0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0—1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1—3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3—1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1—2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2—2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2—4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4—4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4—1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1—2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2—3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3—0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0—2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2—2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2—0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0—4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Playoffs
1998 playoff game log
Total: 4–5 (Home: 2–2; Road: 2–3)
First Round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
B. J. Armstrong 62012.5.510.265.8601.12.30.40.03.9
Corey Beck 591412.5.459.500.7291.51.70.60.13.2
Muggsy Bogues 208.0.4001.0000.52.01.00.03.0
Dell Curry 52118.7.447.421.7881.91.30.60.19.4
Tony Delk 3011.3.7501.000.5000.71.00.00.02.7
Vlade Divac 644128.2.498.214.6918.12.71.31.510.4
Tony Farmer 2726.3.321.222.7951.20.20.40.12.5
Matt Geiger 784223.6.505.091.7126.71.00.91.111.3
Jeff Grayer 1011.0.000.0000.01.00.00.00.0
Anthony Mason 818038.9.509.000.64910.24.20.80.212.8
Vernon Maxwell 31015.1.428.360.7351.41.30.50.16.8
Michael McDonald 104.01.00.00.00.00.0
Bobby Phills 626130.4.446.386.7573.53.01.30.310.4
J.R. Reid 79114.0.459.375.7302.70.60.40.24.9
Glen Rice 828240.2.457.433.8494.32.20.90.322.3
Donald Royal 29510.5.381.8971.30.60.20.02.6
David Wesley 818135.1.443.347.7952.66.51.70.413.0
Travis Williams 3909.4.471.000.5222.40.50.50.13.5

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
B. J. Armstrong 9016.2.381.400.7501.12.00.70.04.1
Corey Beck 604.3.500.5001.0000.20.00.70.02.5
Dell Curry 9019.0.404.250.8572.11.10.80.35.8
Vlade Divac 9938.3.483.000.60610.93.40.81.611.6
Matt Geiger 405.5.1671.30.30.00.00.5
Anthony Mason 9940.8.576.000.5957.93.40.90.015.4
Bobby Phills 9929.9.391.294.2502.62.71.10.26.3
J.R. Reid 9012.7.393.000.8002.20.20.30.33.3
Glen Rice 9941.0.474.306.8335.71.40.60.322.8
Donald Royal 407.0.429.7501.00.30.00.02.3
David Wesley 9931.7.398.429.7142.06.70.80.010.0
Travis Williams 404.5.333.7501.30.00.30.31.3

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:[16]

References
  1. 1997-98 Charlotte Hornets
  2. "Hornets Sign Phills". New York Times. August 20, 1997. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  3. "PRO BASKETBALL; Bogues Is Traded". New York Times. November 8, 1997. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  4. "1997–98 Charlotte Hornets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  6. "1997–98 Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Mason Leads Charge As Hornets Top Hawks". The New York Times. May 2, 1998. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  8. "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; The Bulls Finish Off Charlotte to Advance". The New York Times. May 14, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  9. Bembry, Jerry (May 7, 1998). "Hornets steal one from Bulls, 78-76 Controlling Jordan, Charlotte ties series". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. "Michael Jordan hits 'The Shot', and the Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz for their 6th NBA championship". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  11. "Charlotte's sellout streak ends at 364 games". AP News. November 25, 1997. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  12. "Kings Sign Center Vlade Divac". CBS News. January 22, 1999. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  13. "Bucks spice roster with Curry". The Journal Times. January 23, 1999. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  14. "Charlotte Hornets Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  15. "Charlotte Hornets Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  16. "1997–98 Charlotte Hornets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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