The 2015-16 Charlotte Hornets finished the NBA regular season with a 48-34 record, a marked improvement under head coach Steve Clifford. This performance secured them the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Key off-season acquisition Nicolas Batum proved instrumental, complementing the efforts of Kemba Walker, who averaged 20.9 points per game, leading the team in scoring.
The Hornets displayed a solid defensive approach, ranking ninth in the league for defensive rating. Their improved three-point shooting, led by Walker and Marvin Williams, helped elevate their offensive capabilities. In the playoffs, they faced the Miami Heat in a competitive first-round series, which went to seven games. Despite a valiant effort, the Hornets were ultimately eliminated. This season marked a significant step forward for the franchise, indicating a positive trajectory after several years of rebuilding.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-4
Charlotte Hornets Roster and Stats for 2015-16 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kemba Walker | 81 | 20.9 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 37.1 | 7 | 22.7 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 32.6 |
| Nicolas Batum | 70 | 14.9 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 34.8 | 5 | 11.4 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | 7 | 12.7 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 42.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Jefferson | 47 | 12.0 | 6.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 7 | 13.3 | 6.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Jeremy Lin | 78 | 11.7 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 33.6 | 7 | 12.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 21.4 |
| Marvin Williams | 81 | 11.7 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 40.2 | 7 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 35.3 |
| Courtney Lee | 28 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 39.2 | 7 | 8.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 44.4 |
| Jeremy Lamb | 66 | 8.8 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 30.9 | 3 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Cody Zeller | 73 | 8.7 | 6.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 10.0 | 7 | 8.4 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Frank Kaminsky | 81 | 7.5 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 33.7 | 7 | 7.1 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 29.4 |
| Spencer Hawes | 57 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 37.3 | 5 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 25.0 |
| P.J. Hairston | 48 | 6.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 31.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Troy Daniels | 43 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 48.4 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Roberts | 30 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tyler Hansbrough | 44 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 66.7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jorge Gutiérrez | 12 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Aaron Harrison | 21 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 30.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Charlotte Hornets in the 2016 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Miami Heat
In the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Charlotte Hornets faced the Miami Heat in a tightly contested first-round series. Despite a valiant effort, highlighted by a strong performance from Kemba Walker, the Hornets ultimately fell to the Heat in seven games. This series marked the Hornets' first playoff wins since 2002, showcasing a promising yet challenging postseason run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2016 | @ Miami Heat | L 123-91 | |
| Apr 20, 2016 | @ Miami Heat | L 115-103 | |
| Apr 23, 2016 | vs. Miami Heat | W 96-80 | |
| Apr 25, 2016 | vs. Miami Heat | W 89-85 | |
| Apr 27, 2016 | @ Miami Heat | W 90-88 | |
| Apr 29, 2016 | vs. Miami Heat | L 97-90 | |
| May 01, 2016 | @ Miami Heat | L 106-73 |
Charlotte Hornets 2015-16 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2015-16 season for the Charlotte Hornets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2015 | @ Miami Heat | L 104-94 | |
| Oct 30, 2015 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 97-94 | |
| Nov 01, 2015 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 94-92 | |
| Nov 03, 2015 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 130-105 | |
| Nov 05, 2015 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 108-94 | |
| Nov 07, 2015 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 114-94 | |
| Nov 10, 2015 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 104-95 | |
| Nov 11, 2015 | vs. New York Knicks | W 95-93 | |
| Nov 13, 2015 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-97 | |
| Nov 15, 2015 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-94 | |
| Nov 17, 2015 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-94 | |
| Nov 18, 2015 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 116-111 | |
| Nov 20, 2015 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-88 | |
| Nov 23, 2015 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 127-122 | |
| Nov 25, 2015 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 101-87 | |
| Nov 27, 2015 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 95-90 | |
| Nov 29, 2015 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 87-82 | |
| Dec 02, 2015 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 116-99 | |
| Dec 05, 2015 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 102-96 | |
| Dec 07, 2015 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-84 | |
| Dec 09, 2015 | vs. Miami Heat | W 99-81 | |
| Dec 11, 2015 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 123-99 | |
| Dec 12, 2015 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 98-93 | |
| Dec 16, 2015 | @ Orlando Magic | L 113-98 | |
| Dec 17, 2015 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 109-99 | |
| Dec 19, 2015 | @ Washington Wizards | L 109-101 | |
| Dec 21, 2015 | @ Houston Rockets | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 23, 2015 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-89 | |
| Dec 26, 2015 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 98-92 | |
| Dec 28, 2015 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-98 | |
| Dec 30, 2015 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 122-117 | |
| Jan 01, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 104-94 | |
| Jan 02, 2016 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 109-90 | |
| Jan 04, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 111-101 | |
| Jan 06, 2016 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-102 | |
| Jan 09, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 97-83 | |
| Jan 10, 2016 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 95-92 | |
| Jan 13, 2016 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-84 | |
| Jan 15, 2016 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 109-107 | |
| Jan 16, 2016 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-92 | |
| Jan 18, 2016 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 124-119 | |
| Jan 20, 2016 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 109-95 | |
| Jan 22, 2016 | @ Orlando Magic | W 120-116 | |
| Jan 23, 2016 | vs. New York Knicks | W 97-84 | |
| Jan 25, 2016 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 129-128 | |
| Jan 27, 2016 | @ Utah Jazz | L 102-73 | |
| Jan 29, 2016 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-91 | |
| Jan 31, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-82 | |
| Feb 03, 2016 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-97 | |
| Feb 05, 2016 | vs. Miami Heat | L 98-95 | |
| Feb 06, 2016 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 108-104 | |
| Feb 08, 2016 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-91 | |
| Feb 10, 2016 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 117-95 | |
| Feb 19, 2016 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 98-95 | |
| Feb 21, 2016 | @ Brooklyn Nets | W 104-96 | |
| Feb 24, 2016 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-103 | |
| Feb 26, 2016 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 96-95 | |
| Feb 28, 2016 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 87-76 | |
| Mar 01, 2016 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 126-92 | |
| Mar 02, 2016 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-99 | |
| Mar 04, 2016 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 07, 2016 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 108-103 | |
| Mar 09, 2016 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 122-113 | |
| Mar 11, 2016 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-103 | |
| Mar 12, 2016 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 125-109 | |
| Mar 14, 2016 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 107-96 | |
| Mar 16, 2016 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 107-99 | |
| Mar 17, 2016 | @ Miami Heat | W 109-106 | |
| Mar 19, 2016 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 101-93 | |
| Mar 21, 2016 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 91-88 | |
| Mar 22, 2016 | @ Brooklyn Nets | W 105-100 | |
| Mar 25, 2016 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 112-105 | |
| Mar 26, 2016 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-91 | |
| Mar 29, 2016 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-85 | |
| Apr 01, 2016 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-91 | |
| Apr 03, 2016 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 112-103 | |
| Apr 05, 2016 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 96-90 | |
| Apr 06, 2016 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-97 | |
| Apr 08, 2016 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 113-99 | |
| Apr 10, 2016 | @ Washington Wizards | L 113-98 | |
| Apr 11, 2016 | @ Boston Celtics | W 114-100 | |
| Apr 13, 2016 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 117-103 |