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- The 1996–97 NBA season was the 9th season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. For the first time since the 1990–91 season, Larry Johnson was not on the team's opening day roster. The Hornets had the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Kobe Bryant, but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac, acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks, and signed free agent Tony Smith during the off-season. Under new head coach Dave Cowens, the new-look Hornets played better than expected. After an 8–9 start to the season, the Hornets won 21 of their next 31 games, holding a 29–19 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Tom Chambers in January, then traded Scott Burrell, second-year guard Anthony Goldwire, and second-year center George Zidek to the Golden State Warriors, and acquired Ricky Pierce from the Denver Nuggets in February. However, Chambers was released to free agency after 12 games. The Hornets posted a nine-game winning streak in April, and finished fourth in the Central Division with a franchise best record at 54–28, making it back to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Glen Rice had the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring with a career-high of 26.8 points per game, earning All-NBA Second Team honors, and finishing in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting. Rice was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, where he set several scoring records and was selected the game's MVP. In addition, Mason averaged 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, and earned All-NBA Third Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, while Divac and Matt Geiger both provided the best center combo in the league, as Divac averaged 12.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, and Geiger provided the team with 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but only played just 49 games due to a back injury. Sixth man Dell Curry contributed 14.8 points per game off the bench, while Muggsy Bogues provided with 8.0 points, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and Smith contributed 5.0 points per game. However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hornets were swept by the New York Knicks in three straight games. The Hornets led the NBA in home-game attendance for the eighth and final time during their history in Charlotte. They also had the best three-point percentage in NBA history shooting 42.8% from beyond the arch. Following the season, Pierce re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks during the next season, and Smith was released to free agency. (en)
- La stagione 1996-97 dei Charlotte Hornets fu la 9ª nella NBA per la franchigia. I Charlotte Hornets arrivarono terzi nella Central Division della Eastern Conference con un record di 54-28. Nei play-off persero al primo turno con i New York Knicks (3-0). (it)
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- La stagione 1996-97 dei Charlotte Hornets fu la 9ª nella NBA per la franchigia. I Charlotte Hornets arrivarono terzi nella Central Division della Eastern Conference con un record di 54-28. Nei play-off persero al primo turno con i New York Knicks (3-0). (it)
- The 1996–97 NBA season was the 9th season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. For the first time since the 1990–91 season, Larry Johnson was not on the team's opening day roster. The Hornets had the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Kobe Bryant, but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac, acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks, and signed free agent Tony Smith during the off-season. Under new head coach Dave Cowens, the new-look Hornets played better than expected. After an 8–9 start to the season, the Hornets won 21 of their next 31 games, holding a 29–19 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team signed free agent and former All-Star forward Tom Chambers in January, the (en)
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