1989–90 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Charlotte Hornets' second season in the National Basketball Association. In the 1989 NBA draft, the Hornets selected J.R. Reid from the University of North Carolina with the fifth overall pick. The Hornets moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference, also switching from the Atlantic Division to the Midwest Division for the season. In December, the team traded Kurt Rambis to the Phoenix Suns for Armen Gilliam. Gilliam would lead the Hornets in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game. Head Coach Dick Harter was replaced by Gene Littles at midseason, following a disappointing 8–32 start. The team finished the season with a record of 19 wins and 63 losses, one game worse than the previous year. Reid was named to the All-Rookie Second Team. Despite the lack of success on the court, the Hornets sold out every home game, finishing second in the NBA in attendance during the season.

Regular season

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 * 17
 * December 7, 1989
 * Portland
 * L 86–96
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 3–14
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 * 21
 * December 16, 1989
 * @ Chicago
 * L 104–115
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 3–18
 * L 104–115
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 3–18
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 3–18
 * 3–18


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 * 32
 * January 12, 1990
 * Chicago
 * L 95–107
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 7–25
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 * 33
 * January 15, 1990
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 108–118 (OT)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 7–26
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 * 37
 * January 21, 1990
 * @ Portland
 * L 100–115
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 8–29
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 * 39
 * January 25, 1990
 * Phoenix
 * L 97–124
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 8–31
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 8–29
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 * 39
 * January 25, 1990
 * Phoenix
 * L 97–124
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 8–31
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 8–31
 * 8–31


 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
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 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 50
 * February 20, 1990
 * Portland
 * L 94–104
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 9–41
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 9–41
 * 9–41


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 * 59
 * March 11, 1990
 * Detroit
 * L 88–98
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 10–49
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 * 62
 * March 16, 1990
 * @ Portland
 * L 109–124
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 10–52
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 * 65
 * March 21, 1990
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 115–114 (OT)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 12–53
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 * 69
 * March 28, 1990
 * @ Detroit
 * L 97–106
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 14–55
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 * 70
 * March 29, 1990
 * Phoenix
 * L 92–105
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 14–56
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 14–55
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 * 70
 * March 29, 1990
 * Phoenix
 * L 92–105
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 14–56
 * L 92–105
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 14–56
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 14–56
 * 14–56

Awards and records

 * J. R. Reid, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

Transactions
Signed Clifford Lett as a free agent. Traded Tim Kempton to the Denver Nuggets for a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Kevin Lynch was later selected).
 * August 16, 1989
 * September 11, 1989

Signed Jerry Sichting as a free agent. Signed Kenny Gattison as a free agent. Signed Terry Dozier as a free agent. Signed Andre Turner as a free agent. Traded Robert Reid to the Portland Trail Blazers for Richard Anderson. Waived Kenny Gattison. Waived Clifford Lett. Waived Andre Turner. Andre Turner claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Clippers. Signed Andre Turner as a free agent. Greg Kite signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Sacramento Kings. Waived Terry Dozier. Signed Kenny Gattison as a free agent. Waived Andre Turner. Traded Kurt Rambis, a 1990 2nd round draft pick (Negele Knight was later selected) and a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Chad Gallagher was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Armen Gilliam.
 * September 26, 1989
 * September 28, 1989
 * October 5, 1989
 * October 17, 1989
 * October 19, 1989
 * October 23, 1989
 * October 31, 1989
 * November 1, 1989
 * November 23, 1989
 * November 25, 1989
 * November 27, 1989
 * December 2, 1989
 * December 3, 1989
 * December 13, 1989

Signed Robert Reid as a free agent. Traded Stuart Gray to the New York Knicks for a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Jimmy Oliver was later selected).
 * February 22, 1990

Traded a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Jimmy Oliver was later selected) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Randolph Keys. Waived Jerry Sichting. Signed Micheal Williams to the first of two 10-day contracts. Signed Micheal Williams to a contract for the rest of the season. Signed Ralph Lewis to a 10-day contract.
 * February 23, 1990
 * March 13, 1990
 * April 2, 1990
 * April 14, 1990

Player Transactions Citation: