2005–06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets season explained

Team:	New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
End Year:	2006
Wins:	38
Losses:	44
Division:	Southwest
Division Place:	4
Conf Place:	10
Coach:	Byron Scott
Gm:	Jeff Bower
Owner:	George Shinn
Arena:	Ford Center (36 games) New Orleans Arena (3 games) Pete Maravich Assembly Center (1 game) Lloyd Noble Center (1 game)
Playoffs:	Did not qualify
Bbr Team:	NOH
Television:	Cox Sports Television The Cox Channel Cox 4
Radio:	WTIX KTOK
Prev Name:	New Orleans Hornets

The 2005–06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets season was the team's 4th season in the NBA. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 18–64 record from the previous season (worst in the Western Conference that year). They finished the season with a 38–44 record, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Before the commencement of training camp, the City of New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina.^[1] With the New Orleans Arena partly damaged and the city's infrastructure in need of repair the Hornets signed a deal to play most of their games in Oklahoma City, becoming the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for this season. In Oklahoma City, the Hornets enjoyed sell-out crowds at the Ford Center.

The addition of draft pick Chris Paul resulted in the team competing for a playoff spot. In January and February, the club played winning basketball despite losing Chris Andersen to a two-year suspension for illegal drugs. Paul showed the poise and play making skills of a veteran finishing second in steals and seventh in assists as he posted a terrific 3.34 assist-to-turnover ratio, while leading all rookies with 16.1 points per game.

On March 8, the Hornets returned to New Orleans with a near sell-out crowd on hand to watch the Hornets lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 113–107. In March, the Hornets went into a tailspin, winning just 3 of 14 games. The Hornets went on to finish in 4th place in their division. Chris Paul was named Rookie of the Year.^[2]

Draft picks

See main article: 2005 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Chris Paul^[3]	PG
2	33	Brandon Bass	F		LSU

Regular season

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| November 1| Sacramento| 93–67| P. J. Brown (20)| David West (11)| Speedy Claxton & Chris Paul (4)| Ford Center
19,163| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| November 2| @ Cleveland| 87–109| Speedy Claxton (16)| Chris Andersen (8)| Boštjan Nachbar (6)| Quicken Loans Arena
20,562| 1–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| November 5| @ Houston| 91–84| P. J. Brown (18)| P. J. Brown (13)| Claxton & Paul (8)| Toyota Center
15,875| 2–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| November 9| Orlando| 83–88| Speedy Claxton (24)| P. J. Brown (10)| Speedy Claxton (6)| Ford Center
18,508| 2–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| November 12| Dallas| 103–109| Chris Paul (26)| P. J. Brown (7)| Speedy Claxton (7)| Ford Center
19,163| 2–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| November 15| @ Miami| 102–109 (OT)| P. J. Brown (24)| P. J. Brown (12)| Chris Paul (10)| American Airlines Arena
19,600| 2–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| November 16| Denver| 81–91| Chris Paul (18)| Brown, Paul, & West (9)| Kirk Snyder (5)| Ford Center
18,442| 2–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| November 18| Atlanta| 95–92| Chris Paul (25)| Chris Andersen (18)| Chris Paul (12)| Ford Center
17,554| 3–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9| November 19| @ Orlando| 98–95| David West (34)| Andersen & West (8)| Chris Paul (8)| TD Waterhouse Centre
14,489| 4–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 10| November 21| @ Philadelphia| 91–103| David West (20)| David West (9)| Chris Paul (6)| Wachovia Center
12,452| 4–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11| November 23| Minnesota| 84–80| David West (22)| David West (13)| Chris Paul (8)| Ford Center
19,163| 5–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12| November 26| @ Seattle| 105–99| David West (21)| Desmond Mason & Paul (7)| Chris Paul (10)| Key Arena
16,371| 6–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 13| November 28| @ Golden State| 83–99| Chris Paul (15)| David West (11)| Speedy Claxton (9)| Oakland Arena
16,270| 6–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| November 30| @ Denver| 102–95| Desmond Mason (26)| P. J. Brown (12)| Chris Paul (9)| Pepsi Center
15,603| 7–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15| December 2| Philadelphia| 88–86| David West (22)| P. J. Brown (14)| Chris Paul (9)| Ford Center
19,163| 8–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 16| December 3| @ Dallas| 88–97| Chris Paul (25)| Brown & Paul (6)| Chris Paul (5)| American Airlines Center
19,651| 8–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 17| December 6| @ Memphis| 73–89| Mason & West (15)| Chris Andersen (10)| Paul, J. R. Smith, & Claxton (4)| FedEx Forum
13,271| 8–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18| December 7| Boston| 87–101| David West (29)| Chris Paul (10)| Chris Paul (6)| Ford Center
18,753| 8–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 19| December 9| @ Portland| 95–98 (OT)| Speedy Claxton (27)| Chris Paul (7)| Chris Paul (10)| Rose Garden
12,305| 8–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 20| December 11| @ Sacramento| 100–110| Chris Paul (18)| P. J. Brown (8)| Chris Paul (12)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 8–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21| December 12| @ Phoenix| 91–87| J. R. Smith (26)| J. R. Smith (10)| Chris Paul (7)| America West Arena
15,547| 9–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22| December 14| LA Clippers| 102–89| J. R. Smith (21)| David West (12)| Chris Paul (8)| Ford Center
17,490| 10–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| December 16| Phoenix| 88–101| Chris Paul (25)| Brown & West (13)| Chris Paul (6)| Pete Maravich Assembly Center
7,302| 10–13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24| December 18| San Antonio| 89–76| David West (19)| Chris Paul (12)| Chris Paul (9)| Ford Center
19,297| 11–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 25| December 21| @ Minnesota| 69–88| Chris Paul (15)| P. J. Brown (9)| Speedy Claxton (4)| Target Center
14,454| 11–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| December 23| @ Milwaukee| 94–101| David West (27)| David West (18)| Chris Paul (8)| Bradley Center
16,824| 11–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 27| December 28| Houston| 92–90| J. R. Smith (16)| Brown & West (7)| Chris Paul (15)| Ford Center
19,205| 12–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28| December 29 | @ San Antonio| 84–111| David West (18)| P. J. Brown (6)| Chris Paul (7)| AT&T Center
18,797| 12–16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 29| December 31| Dallas| 90–95| David West (18)| David West (10)| Chris Paul (10)| Ford Center
19,170| 12–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30| January 2| Charlotte| 103–86| Chris Paul (24)| Mason & West (9)| Chris Paul (11)| Ford Center
17,683| 13–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 31| January 4| Miami| 107–92| Desmond Mason (24)| Mason & West (7)| Chris Paul (9)| Ford Center
19,326| 14–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| January 6| Portland| 90–80| Kirk Snyder (22)| David West (13)| Speedy Claxton (7)| Ford Center
18,995| 14–18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 33| January 7| @ Atlanta| 93–101| Speedy Claxton (29)| David West (9)| Kirk Snyder (4)| Philips Arena
11,332| 14–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 34| January 10| Detroit| 86–96| David West (20)| P. J. Brown (9)| Chris Paul (5)| Ford Center
19,260| 15–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35| January 13| Sacramento| 90–76| David West (19)| Chris Paul (8)| Speedy Claxton (8)| Lloyd Noble Center
11,343| 16–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 36| January 14| @ Houston| 86–80| Chris Paul (17)| P. J. Brown (10)| Chris Paul (5)| Toyota Center
14,724| 17–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 37| January 16| @ Charlotte| 107–92| Chris Paul (24)| David West (11)| Chris Paul (6)| Charlotte Bobcats Arena
15,303| 18–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38| January 18| Memphis| 87–79| Chris Paul (16)| David West (14)| Chris Paul (9)| Ford Center
14,554| 19–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 39| January 20| @ Washington| 99–110| Chris Paul (28)| David West (7)| Chris Paul (11)| Verizon Center
19,062| 19–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 40| January 21| @ New York| 109–98| Chris Paul (27)| P. J. Brown (9)| Chris Paul (13)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 20–20|- style="background:#fcc;"| 41| January 23| @ Boston| 78–91| David West (21)| P. J. Brown (8)| Chris Paul (6)| TD Banknorth Garden
14,473| 20–21|- style="background:#fcc;"| 42| January 25| San Antonio| 68–84| Rasual Butler & West (15)| P. J. Brown (9)| Chris Paul (4)| Ford Center
19,289| 20–22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 43| January 28| @ Memphis| 95–86| Speedy Claxton (20)| David West (12)| Chris Paul (8)| FedExForum
16,228| 21–22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44| January 30| Milwaukee| 94–93| David West (24)| David West (15)| Chris Paul (9)| Ford Center
18,197| 22–22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 45| February 1| Chicago| 100–95| Chris Paul (25)| Brown & West (6)| Chris Paul (13)| Ford Center
19,163| 23–22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 46| February 4| LA Lakers| 106–90| Desmond Mason (21)| P. J. Brown (9)| Chris Paul (13)| Ford Center
19,334| 24–22|- style="background:#fcc;"| 47| February 6| @ New Jersey| 91–99| Speedy Claxton (23)| Mason & Paul (7)| Chris Paul (13)| Continental Airlines Arena
13,998| 24–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 48 | February 8| Seattle| 109–102| David West (26)| David West (10)| Kirk Snyder (12)| Ford Center
18,807| 25–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 49| February 10| New York| 111–100| David West (21)| David West (10)| Speedy Claxton (11)| Ford Center
19,163| 26–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 50| February 11| @ Minnesota| 100–94| Claxton & Snyder (28)| Desmond Mason (9)| Speedy Claxton (7)| Target Center
15,933| 27–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51| February 13| Washington| 97–96| David West (19)| David West (9)| Speedy Claxton (10)| Ford Center
18,678| 28–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 52| February 15| Portland| 102–86| Kirk Snyder (22)| Rasual Butler (9)| Chris Paul (7)| Ford Center
19,051| 29–23|- style="background:#fcc;"| 53| February 21| @ Indiana| 75–97| Chris Paul (27)| Desmond Mason (7)| Chris Paul (6)| Conseco Fieldhouse
14,108| 29–24|- style="background:#fcc;"| 54| February 22| Utah| 100–95| Chris Paul (18)| Aaron Williams (13)| Chris Paul (7)| Ford Center
18,368| 29–25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 55| February 25| @ Utah| 100–95| Chris Paul (23)| Linton Johnson (11)| Chris Paul (8)| EnergySolutions Arena
18,471| 30–25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 56| February 26| @ Portland| 102–86| David West (22)| Marc Jackson (8)| Chris Paul (8)| Rose Garden
12,860| 31–25|- style="background:#fcc;"| 57| February 28| @ Seattle| 104–114| Chris Paul (25)| Chris Paul (7)| Chris Paul (14)| Key Arena
15,115| 31–26|- style="background:#fcc;"| 58| March 1| @ LA Clippers| 67–89| Desmond Mason (20)| P. J. Brown (11)| Chris Paul (12)| Staples Center
16,157| 31–27|- style="background:#fcc;"| 59| March 6| Phoenix| 88–101| David West (20)| David West (8)| Chris Paul (11)| Ford Center
19,207| 31–28|- style="background:#fcc;"| 60| March 8| LA Lakers| 107–113| David West (25)| Kirk Snyder (6)| Chris Paul (10)| New Orleans Arena
17,744| 31–29|- style="background:#fcc;"| 61| March 10| Indiana| 90–92| David West (20)| Chris Paul (7)| Chris Paul (8)| Ford Center
18,506| 31–30|- style="background:#fcc;"| 62| March 12| New Jersey| 84–95| Chris Paul (17)| P. J. Brown (8)| Chris Paul (7)| Ford Center
19,198| 31–31|- style="background:#fcc;"| 63| March 14| @ San Antonio| 81–96| Jackson & Paul (16)| Rasual Butler (8)| Chris Paul (7)| AT&T Center
18,797| 31–32|- style="background:#fcc;"| 64| March 18| Denver| 94–109| David West (24)| P. J. Brown (10)| Chris Paul (10)| New Orleans Arena
17,912| 31–33|- style="background:#cfc;"| 65| March 21| LA Clippers| 120–108| Rasual Butler (32)| David West (11)| Chris Paul (9)| New Orleans Arena
16,799| 32–33|- style="background:#fcc;"| 66| March 23| Houston| 92–93| David West (14)| David West (11)| Speedy Claxton (10)| Ford Center
19,163| 32–34|- style="background:#fcc;"| 67| March 24| @ Chicago| 82–96| Chris Paul (13)| Brown & Butler (9)| Speedy Claxton (6)| United Center
21,793| 32–35|- style="background:#fcc;"| 68| March 26| @ LA Lakers| 67–89| David West (23)| David West (10)| Claxton & Paul (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 32–36|- style="background:#fcc;"| 69| March 27| @ Utah| 80–104| Rasual Butler (15)| P. J. Brown (8)| Chris Paul (7)| EnergySolutions Arena
17,437| 32–37|- style="background:#cfc;"| 70| March 29| @ Golden State| 86–85| Rasual Butler (20)| Marc Jackson (8)| Chris Paul (7)| Oakland Arena
16,885| 33–37|- style="background:#cfc;"| 71| March 31| Memphis| 107–102| Marc Jackson (24)| Linton Johnson (8)| Speedy Claxton (8)| Ford Center
18,817| 34–37|- style="background:#cfc;"| 72| April 2| @ Toronto| 120–113 (2 OT)| Chris Paul (24)| Chris Paul (12)| Claxton & Paul (12)| Air Canada Centre
15,079| 35–37|- style="background:#fcc;"| 73| April 4| @ Detroit| 93–101| Paul & West (24)| Jackson, Johnson, & West (6)| Chris Paul (10)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 35–38|- style="background:#cfc;"| 74| April 5| Golden State| 114–109 OT| Speedy Claxton (21)| Butler & Paul (11)| Chris Paul (16)| Ford Center
18,169| 36–38|- style="background:#cfc;"| 75| April 7| Toronto| 95–89| David West (19)| David West (9)| Chris Paul (8)| Ford Center
18,854| 37–38|- style="background:#fcc;"| 76| April 8| @ Dallas| 77–101| Rasual Butler (14)| Brown & Butler (7)| Chris Paul (5)| American Airlines Center
20,336| 37–39|- style="background:#fcc;"| 77| April 10| Cleveland| 101–103| Chris Paul (22)| P. J. Brown (10)| Chris Paul (5)| Ford Center
19,187| 37–40|- style="background:#cfc;"| 78| April 12| Seattle| 104–99| Chris Paul (21)| Marc Jackson (14)| Chris Paul (6)| Ford Center
18,607| 38–40|- style="background:#fcc;"| 79| April 14| Utah| 104–105| David West (31)| David West (12)| Chris Paul (7)| Ford Center
19,163| 38–41|- style="background:#fcc;"| 80| April 16| @ Sacramento| 79–96| Chris Paul (12)| Brandon Bass (7)| Chris Paul (7)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 38–42|- style="background:#fcc;"| 81| April 17| @ Phoenix| 78–115| Jackson & Paul (11)| Linton Johnson (7)| Chris Paul (5)| US Airways Arena
18,442| 38–43|- style="background:#fcc;"| 82| April 19| @ LA Lakers| 95–115| P. J. Brown (16)| Marc Jackson (13)| Chris Paul (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 38–44

Player statistics

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	32	2	17.8	.571	.000	.476	4.8	0.2	0.3	1.3	5.0
	29	1	9.2	.400	.000	.632	2.3	0.1	0.1	0.2	2.3
	75	73	31.7	.461	.000	.827	7.3	1.2	0.6	0.7	9.0
	79	20	23.7	.406	.380	.693	2.9	0.5	0.4	0.6	8.7
	71	3	28.4	.413	.270	.769	2.7	4.8	1.5	0.1	12.3
	3	0	13.0	.529	1.000	.500	2.3	0.3	0.0	0.0	6.7
	27	10	22.0	.489	.500	.824	4.7	0.8	0.3	0.1	9.1
	27	7	18.1	.403	.361	.739	4.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	5.3
	2	0	8.0	.000	.000	.000	2.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
	19	0	7.1	.341	.250	.867	0.5	0.3	0.4	0.0	2.3
	70	55	30.0	.399	.167	.682	4.3	0.9	0.6	0.2	10.8
	25	13	16.2	.339	.298	.694	2.0	0.9	0.5	0.2	5.0
	16	0	11.4	.426	.444	.640	1.3	1.3	0.4	0.0	3.8
	78	78	36.0	.430	.282	.847	5.1	7.8	2.2	0.1	16.1
	55	25	18.0	.393	.371	.822	2.0	1.1	0.7	0.1	7.7
	68	45	19.3	.453	.357	.735	2.4	1.5	0.4	0.3	8.0
	41	2	9.9	.394	.000	.477	2.1	0.3	0.3	0.3	1.8
	74	74	34.1	.512	.273	.843	7.4	1.2	0.8	0.9	17.1
	34	2	20.4	.516	.000	.673	4.9	0.5	0.4	0.5	5.8

Bold leads team. Minimum of ten games started.
Reference:^[4]

Awards and records

Awards

• Chris Paul, NBA Rookie of the Year Award^[5]
• Chris Paul, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Free agents

Subtractions

See also

• 2005–06 NBA season

Notes and References

1. Web site: New Orleans Hornets (2002-Present) . 2008-07-04 . 2008-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080527132224/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/nohornets/nohornets.html . dead .
2. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NOK/2006.html New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets on Basketball Reference
3. Web site: NBA.com: Draft 2005 . 2008-07-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080914095952/http://www.nba.com/draft2005/ . 2008-09-14 . dead .
4. Web site: 2005-06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets Roster and Stats.
5. Web site: NBA.com Hornets' Paul Named the 2005-06 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year . 2008-07-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070202012001/http://www.nba.com/news/awards2006_rookie.html . 2007-02-02 . dead .