The 1988-89 season marked the Charlotte Hornets’ inaugural campaign in the NBA. As an expansion team, the Hornets faced the expected struggles, finishing with a 20-62 record. Their performance placed them last in the Central Division and tied for the worst record in the league with the Miami Heat. Despite the challenging season, the Hornets laid the groundwork for future development with their energetic fanbase and distinctive teal-and-purple branding.
Under Head Coach Dick Harter, the team was led by Kelly Tripucka, who averaged 22.6 points per game. Notable young players included Rex Chapman, the eighth overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft, who showed promise with his scoring ability. The season also featured a significant milestone when the Hornets recorded their first-ever victory on November 8, 1988, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite the tough season, the Hornets’ entry into the league marked the beginning of a new era for basketball in Charlotte.
- Regular Season Record: 20-62
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
POINTS
Kelly Tripucka
22.6
REBOUNDS
Kurt Rambis
9.4
ASSISTS
Muggsy Bogues
7.8
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kelly Tripucka | 71 | 22.6 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 35.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rex Chapman | 75 | 16.9 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 31.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Reid | 82 | 14.7 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 32.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dell Curry | 48 | 11.9 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 34.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Rambis | 75 | 11.1 | 9.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Holton | 67 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 21.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Rowsom | 34 | 6.6 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Hoppen | 77 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Cureton | 82 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tim Kempton | 79 | 6.1 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Muggsy Bogues | 79 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 7.8 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 7.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rickey Green | 33 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Lewis | 42 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Kite | 12 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Tolbert | 14 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Lowe | 14 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Charlotte Hornets 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Charlotte Hornets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 133-93 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 94-85 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-105 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 96-87 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 132-111 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 17, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 105-93 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 107-105 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 99-93 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-109 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 123-116 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 120-113 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | vs. Miami Heat | W 99-84 | |
| Dec 01, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-107 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 108-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 96-95 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 121-112 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 115-104 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 115-106 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 107-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 100-91 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-115 | |
| Dec 21, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 103-101 | |
| Dec 26, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 97-95 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-98 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 122-111 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 109-106 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-86 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-92 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 107-104 | |
| Jan 09, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 114-92 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 106-101 | |
| Jan 12, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 106-89 | |
| Jan 15, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 127-122 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-106 | |
| Jan 19, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 126-112 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 137-113 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 26, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | W 89-88 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-97 | |
| Jan 30, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 130-118 | |
| Feb 01, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-94 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-106 | |
| Feb 05, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-91 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-93 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-108 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 129-117 | |
| Feb 17, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | L 103-102 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 119-114 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 130-102 | |
| Feb 23, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 139-114 | |
| Feb 25, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-113 | |
| Feb 28, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 112-87 | |
| Mar 02, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-103 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 133-109 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 114-101 | |
| Mar 08, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 112-99 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-90 | |
| Mar 12, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 125-102 | |
| Mar 16, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-88 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-105 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 124-117 | |
| Mar 20, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 117-110 | |
| Mar 23, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 102-97 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 113-101 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 121-105 | |
| Mar 30, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-104 | |
| Apr 01, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 125-121 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-101 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-108 | |
| Apr 09, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-116 | |
| Apr 10, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 112-105 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | W 104-99 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-115 | |
| Apr 15, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 17, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 113-108 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 121-105 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-110 | |
| Apr 23, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-110 |