Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Their home games are played at the Spectrum Center, an arena opened in 2005 that seats over 19,000 fans. The franchise has a complex lineage: originally established as an expansion team in 1988 under owner George Shinn, the Hornets relocated to New Orleans in 2002, becoming the New Orleans Hornets (later the Pelicans). Charlotte was granted a new expansion franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, which began play in 2004. In 2013, the Bobcats reclaimed the Hornets name, history, and teal-and-purple color scheme from the New Orleans Pelicans, with the franchise's official history now retroactively dating back to the original 1988 founding.

Michael Jordan joined as a minority owner in 2006 and acquired majority ownership in 2010. Under his stewardship, the team made the playoffs three times (2014, 2016, 2021) but failed to advance past the first round. In 2023, Jordan sold his controlling stake to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, though he retained a minority share. The team's fan base, known as the Hive, is known for its passionate support, and the mascot Hugo the Hornet is a beloved figure at games. [edit]

The original Charlotte Hornets began play in the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion team. Led by owner George Shinn, the team quickly became a success on and off the court, with stars like Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Muggsy Bogues driving the franchise to playoff appearances in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The team reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1993, 1998, and 2001. However, declining attendance and arena disputes led Shinn to relocate the franchise to New Orleans in 2002.

In 2004, the NBA awarded Charlotte an expansion franchise named the Bobcats, owned by Robert L. Johnson. The Bobcats struggled initially, posting an 18–64 record in their first season. Michael Jordan became a part-owner in 2006 and assumed majority ownership in 2010. The team made the playoffs once as the Bobcats in 2010, losing in the first round. In 2013, the franchise officially rebranded as the Charlotte Hornets, reclaiming the original name, colors, and history. Since then, the Hornets have made the playoffs in 2014, 2016, and 2021, each time exiting in the first round. The 2023–24 season saw a 21–61 record, while the 2024–25 season under new coach Charles Lee improved to 28–54. [edit]