The 1989-90 season marked the second year for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. The team, under head coach Dick Harter, struggled to find their footing, finishing with a record of 19-63. This record placed them last in the Central Division and tied for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Despite the challenging season, the Hornets saw the emergence of rookie J.R. Reid, who was the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft.
Charlotte played their home games at the Charlotte Coliseum, which was known for its enthusiastic fan base despite the team’s struggles. The Hornets’ season was characterized by a lack of consistency, both offensively and defensively, as they sought to build a competitive roster. The season’s performance underscored the growing pains typical of an expansion team, but it also laid the groundwork for future development and success.
- Regular Season Record: 19-63
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
POINTS
Armen Gilliam
18.8
REBOUNDS
Armen Gilliam
8.8
ASSISTS
Muggsy Bogues
10.7
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Armen Gilliam | 60 | 18.8 | 8.8 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rex Chapman | 54 | 17.5 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 33.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dell Curry | 67 | 16.0 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 35.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kelly Tripucka | 79 | 15.6 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 36.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| J.R. Reid | 82 | 11.1 | 8.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randolph Keys | 32 | 10.5 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 36.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Muggsy Bogues | 81 | 9.4 | 2.6 | 10.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 19.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Rambis | 16 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Micheal Williams | 22 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Robert Reid | 60 | 6.4 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 31.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Gattison | 63 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Rowsom | 44 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 49.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Richard Anderson | 54 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 37.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Hoppen | 10 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Sichting | 34 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Lewis | 3 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Andre Turner | 8 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stuart Gray | 39 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Dozier | 9 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Holton | 16 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Charlotte Hornets 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Charlotte Hornets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 116-96 | |
| Nov 07, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-88 | |
| Nov 08, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 102-86 | |
| Nov 10, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 11, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 115-104 | |
| Nov 14, 1989 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 130-116 | |
| Nov 15, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-96 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 99-98 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | L 98-87 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 85-81 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 81-73 | |
| Nov 27, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-108 | |
| Nov 29, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 102-83 | |
| Nov 30, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 113-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 118-110 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 114-101 | |
| Dec 07, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 96-86 | |
| Dec 09, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 106-93 | |
| Dec 12, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-89 | |
| Dec 14, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 105-101 | |
| Dec 16, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-104 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 102-97 | |
| Dec 22, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 114-100 | |
| Dec 26, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 107-82 | |
| Dec 28, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 94-92 | |
| Dec 30, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 111-92 | |
| Jan 04, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 100-98 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-111 | |
| Jan 08, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 126-113 | |
| Jan 09, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 108-98 | |
| Jan 11, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 12, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 107-95 | |
| Jan 15, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 118-108 | |
| Jan 16, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 106-98 | |
| Jan 18, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 110-108 | |
| Jan 19, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-93 | |
| Jan 21, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-100 | |
| Jan 23, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 106-101 | |
| Jan 25, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 124-97 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 92-85 | |
| Jan 31, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 129-95 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 118-107 | |
| Feb 05, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-100 | |
| Feb 07, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 146-125 | |
| Feb 08, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 94-74 | |
| Feb 13, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 128-105 | |
| Feb 14, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 95-86 | |
| Feb 16, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 113-107 | |
| Feb 18, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 85-70 | |
| Feb 20, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-94 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-100 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-86 | |
| Feb 27, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | L 115-109 | |
| Mar 01, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-109 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 104-103 | |
| Mar 05, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 138-117 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-96 | |
| Mar 08, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 111-102 | |
| Mar 11, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 98-88 | |
| Mar 12, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-102 | |
| Mar 14, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-100 | |
| Mar 16, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 124-109 | |
| Mar 18, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-97 | |
| Mar 20, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 115-114 | |
| Mar 23, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-93 | |
| Mar 24, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 122-109 | |
| Mar 26, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 97-83 | |
| Mar 28, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-97 | |
| Mar 29, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 105-92 | |
| Mar 31, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 115-103 | |
| Apr 03, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 127-104 | |
| Apr 04, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-112 | |
| Apr 06, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 108-93 | |
| Apr 08, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-109 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 115-112 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-110 | |
| Apr 14, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-102 | |
| Apr 16, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 110-101 | |
| Apr 18, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | W 98-91 | |
| Apr 19, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 111-102 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 118-107 |