2021–22 Charlotte Hornets season explained

Team:	Charlotte Hornets
End Year:	2022
Wins:	43
Losses:	39
Division:	Southeast
Division Place:	3
Conf Place:	10
Coach:	James Borrego
Gm:	Mitch Kupchak
Owners:	Michael Jordan
Arena:	Spectrum Center
Playoffs:	Did not qualify
Bbr Team:	CHO
Television:	Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast
Radio:	WFNZ

The 2021–22 Charlotte Hornets season was the 32nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Despite clinching a spot in the postseason via the play-in tournament for the second consecutive season, the Hornets lost 132–103 to the Atlanta Hawks, and have not played in the playoffs since 2016.^[1]

After failing to make the playoffs in his four seasons as head coach, James Borrego was fired at the end of the season. He posted a 138–163 (.458) record during his tenure with the Hornets.^[2]

With the Memphis Grizzlies winning the Southwest Division title for the first time in Grizzlies' franchise history, Charlotte is now the only NBA franchise to have never won a division title, having gone 32 seasons without winning a division title since the franchise began play in the 1988–89 season.

NBA draft

See main article: article and 2021 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/club team
1	11	James Bouknight	SG		UConn
2	56	Scottie Lewis	SG		Florida
2	57	Balša Koprivica	C	Serbia	Florida State

Standings

Conference

Game log

Preseason

|-style="background:#cfc;"| 1| October 4| @ Oklahoma City| | James Bouknight (20)| McDaniels, Plumlee (7)| LaMelo Ball (5)| Paycom Center
N/A| 1–0|-style="background:#fcc;"| 2| October 7| Memphis| | Terry Rozier (21)| Martin, Washington (5)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
8,916| 1–1|-style="background:#fcc;"| 3| October 11| @ Miami| | Miles Bridges (22)| Miles Bridges (10)| LaMelo Ball (9)| FTX Arena
19,600| 1–2|-style="background:#fcc;"| 4| October 13| Dallas| | James Bouknight (12)| Nick Richards (9)| Cody Martin (2)| Spectrum Center
8,583| 1–3

Regular season

|-style="background:#cfc;"| 1| October 20| Indiana| | LaMelo Ball (31)| Mason Plumlee (10)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
15,521| 1–0|-style="background:#cfc;"| 2| October 22| @ Cleveland| | Miles Bridges (30)| Mason Plumlee (14)| Ish Smith (8)| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
17,116| 2–0|-style="background:#cfc;"| 3| October 24| @ Brooklyn| | Miles Bridges (32)| Bridges, Oubre Jr. (9)| Gordon Hayward (6)| Barclays Center
17,732| 3–0|-style="background:#fcc;"| 4| October 25| Boston| | Ball, Bridges (25)| Mason Plumlee (11)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Spectrum Center
17,238| 3–1|-style="background:#cfc;"| 5| October 27| @ Orlando| | Miles Bridges (31)| Mason Plumlee (10)| Hayward, Martin (5)| Amway Center
14,082| 4–1|-style="background:#fcc;"| 6| October 29| @ Miami| | Gordon Hayward (23)| Miles Bridges (8)| LaMelo Ball (6)| FTX Arena
19,600| 4–2|-style="background:#cfc;"| 7| October 31| Portland| | LaMelo Ball (27)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Miles Bridges (9)| Spectrum Center
14,960| 5–2|-style="background:#fcc;"| 8| November 1| Cleveland| | LaMelo Ball (30)| Miles Bridges (9)| Miles Bridges (8)| Spectrum Center
13,889| 5–3|-style="background:#fcc;"| 9| November 3| @ Golden State| | Miles Bridges (32)| Gordon Hayward (11)| LaMelo Ball (8)| Chase Center
18,064| 5–4|-style="background:#fcc;"| 10| November 5| @ Sacramento| | Gordon Hayward (25)| Mason Plumlee (6)| LaMelo Ball (13)| Golden 1 Center
14,905| 5–5|-style="background:#fcc;"| 11| November 7| @ L.A. Clippers| | LaMelo Ball (21)| Terry Rozier (8)| Miles Bridges (6)| Staples Center
15,781| 5–6|-style="background:#fcc;"| 12| November 8| @ L.A. Lakers| | Terry Rozier (29)| LaMelo Ball (15)| LaMelo Ball (11)| Staples Center
18,997| 5–7|-style="background:#cfc;"| 13| November 10| @ Memphis| | Kelly Oubre Jr. (37)| Ball, Bridges (9)| LaMelo Ball (8)| FedExForum
13,880| 6–7|-style="background:#cfc;"| 14| November 12| New York| | Miles Bridges (24)| LaMelo Ball (17)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Spectrum Center
19,257| 7–7|-style="background:#cfc;"| 15| November 14| Golden State| | Miles Bridges (22)| Bridges, Martin (8)| Mason Plumlee (6)| Spectrum Center
19,559| 8–7|-style="background:#cfc;"| 16| November 17| Washington| | Terry Rozier (19)| Mason Plumlee (13)| LaMelo Ball (14)| Spectrum Center
14,402| 9–7|-style="background:#cfc;"| 17| November 19| Indiana| | LaMelo Ball (32)| LaMelo Ball (11)| LaMelo Ball (8)| Spectrum Center
16,787| 10–7|-style="background:#fcc;"| 18| November 20| @ Atlanta| | Miles Bridges (35)| Ball, Bridges (10)| LaMelo Ball (11)| State Farm Arena
17,320| 10–8|-style="background:#cfc;"| 19| November 22| @ Washington| | Terry Rozier (32)| LaMelo Ball (13)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Capital One Arena
16,575| 11–8|-style="background:#cfc;"| 20| November 24| @ Orlando| | Terry Rozier (27)| Miles Bridges (9)| Bridges, Martin (6)| Amway Center
16,114| 12–8|-style="background:#cfc;"| 21| November 26| Minnesota| | Kelly Oubre Jr. (27)| Jalen McDaniels (8)| LaMelo Ball (13)| Spectrum Center
19,314| 13–8|-style="background:#fcc;"| 22| November 27| @ Houston| | Terry Rozier (31)| LaMelo Ball (11)| LaMelo Ball (13)| Toyota Center
14,687| 13–9|-style="background:#fcc;"| 23| November 29| @ Chicago| | Terry Rozier (31)| Miles Bridges (8)| LaMelo Ball (13)| United Center
21,366| 13–10|-style="background:#fcc;"| 24| December 1| @ Milwaukee| | LaMelo Ball (36)| P. J. Washington (10)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Fiserv Forum
17,341| 13–11|-style="background:#cfc;"| 25| December 5| @ Atlanta| | Miles Bridges (32)| P. J. Washington (11)| Ish Smith (7)| State Farm Arena
16,383| 14–11|-style="background:#fcc;"| 26| December 6| Philadelphia| | Kelly Oubre Jr. (35)| P. J. Washington (8)| Gordon Hayward (9)| Spectrum Center
14,462| 14–12|-style="background:#fcc;"| 27| December 8| Philadelphia| | Gordon Hayward (31)| Kelly Oubre Jr. (10)| Gordon Hayward (7)| Spectrum Center
15,709| 14–13|-style="background:#cfc;"| 28| December 10| Sacramento| | James Bouknight (24)| Cody Martin (8)| Miles Bridges (8)| Spectrum Center
16,335| 15–13|-style="background:#fcc;"| 29| December 13| @ Dallas| | Oubre Jr., Rozier (20)| Miles Bridges (10)| Gordon Hayward (6)| American Airlines Center
19,213| 15–14|-style="background:#cfc;"| 30| December 15| @ San Antonio| | Gordon Hayward (41)| Jalen McDaniels (10)| Miles Bridges (8)| AT&T Center
14,354| 16–14 |-style="background:#fcc;"| 31| December 17| @ Portland| | LaMelo Ball (27) | Miles Bridges (6)| Miles Bridges (11) | Moda Center
18,399| 16–15|-style="background:#fcc;"| 32| December 19| @ Phoenix| | Miles Bridges (26)| LaMelo Ball (10)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Footprint Center
17,071| 16–16|-style="background:#fcc;"| 33| December 20| @ Utah| | Miles Bridges (21) | Miles Bridges (11) | LaMelo Ball (11)| Vivint Arena
18,306| 16–17|-style="background:#cfc;"| 34| December 23| @ Denver| | Kelly Oubre Jr. (23)| P. J. Washington (9)| P. J. Washington (5)| Ball Arena
17,003| 17–17|-style="background:#cfc;"| 35| December 27| Houston| | Terry Rozier (27)| Mason Plumlee (9)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
19,349| 18–17|-style="background:#cfc;"| 36| December 29| @ Indiana| | Terry Rozier (35)| Ball, Plumlee (12)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
17,608| 19-17|-style="background:#fcc;"| 37| January 2| Phoenix| | LaMelo Ball (17)| Hayward, Richards (7)| Ish Smith (8)| Spectrum Center
19,088| 19–18|-style="background:#fcc;"| 38| January 3| @ Washington| | Gordon Hayward (27)| Miles Bridges (14)| Mason Plumlee (7)| Capital One Arena
8,902| 19–19|-style="background:#cfc;"| 39| January 5| Detroit| | Kelly Oubre Jr. (32)| Ball, Washington (8)| LaMelo Ball (12)| Spectrum Center
14,427| 20–19|-style="background:#cfc;"| 40| January 8| Milwaukee| | Terry Rozier (28)| Ball, Bridges, Washington (8)| LaMelo Ball (8)| Spectrum Center
19,139| 21–19|-style="background:#cfc;"| 41| January 10| Milwaukee| | Terry Rozier (27)| Miles Bridges (11)| P. J. Washington (5)| Spectrum Center
14,253| 22–19|-style="background:#cfc;"| 42| January 12| @ Philadelphia| | Gordon Hayward (30)| Bridges, Washington (8)| LaMelo Ball (8)| Wells Fargo Center
20,317| 23–19|-style="background:#fcc;"| 43| January 14| Orlando| | LaMelo Ball (23) | Mason Plumlee (10)| LaMelo Ball (8)| Spectrum Center
16,011| 23–20|-style="background:#cfc;"| 44| January 17| @ New York| | Miles Bridges (38)| Miles Bridges (12)| Terry Rozier (7)| Madison Square Garden
19,812| 24–20|-style="background:#cfc;"| 45| January 19| @ Boston| | Terry Rozier (28)| Ball, Plumlee (10)| Ball, Rozier (10)| TD Garden
19,156| 25–20|-style="background:#cfc;"| 46| January 21| Oklahoma City| | Terry Rozier (24)| Miles Bridges (14)| Terry Rozier (9)| Spectrum Center
15,835| 26–20|-style="background:#fcc;"| 47| January 23| Atlanta| | Ball, Bridges (19)| Mason Plumlee (11)| Terry Rozier (7)| Spectrum Center
15,822| 26–21|-style="background:#fcc;"| 48| January 25| @ Toronto| | LaMelo Ball (25)| Mason Plumlee (9)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Scotiabank Arena
0| 26–22|-style="background:#cfc;"| 49| January 26| @ Indiana| | Kelly Oubre Jr. (39)| LaMelo Ball (10)| LaMelo Ball (13)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
14,116| 27–22|-style="background:#cfc;"| 50| January 28| L.A. Lakers| | Miles Bridges (26)| Mason Plumlee (17)| Bridges, Plumlee (6)| Spectrum Center
19,469| 28–22|-style="background:#fcc;"| 51| January 30| L.A. Clippers| | LaMelo Ball (23)| Mason Plumlee (10)| LaMelo Ball (10)| Spectrum Center
19,600| 28–23|-style="background:#fcc;"| 52| February 2| @ Boston| | LaMelo Ball (38)| Mason Plumlee (17)| LaMelo Ball (9)| TD Garden
19,156| 28–24|-style="background:#fcc;"| 53| February 4| Cleveland| | Terry Rozier (24)| Mason Plumlee (11)| Miles Bridges (7)| Spectrum Center
17,733|28–25|-style="background:#fcc;"| 54| February 5| Miami| | Terry Rozier (16)| Mason Plumlee (10)| Miles Bridges (5)| Spectrum Center
19,420| 28–26|-style="background:#fcc;"| 55| February 7| Toronto| | Miles Bridges (25)| P. J. Washington (9)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Spectrum Center
14,102| 28–27|-style="background:#fcc;"| 56| February 9| Chicago| | LaMelo Ball (33)| Mason Plumlee (11)| Terry Rozier (6)| Spectrum Center
19,099| 28-28|-style="background:#cfc;"| 57| February 11| @ Detroit| | LaMelo Ball (31)| Plumlee, Rozier (10)| LaMelo Ball (12)| Little Caesars Arena
20,088| 29–28|-style="background:#fcc;"| 58| February 12| Memphis| | Terry Rozier (35)| Mason Plumlee (12)| Terry Rozier (9)| Spectrum Center
19,454| 29–29|-style="background:#fcc;"| 59| February 15| @ Minnesota| | Miles Bridges (28)| Mason Plumlee (17)| Mason Plumlee (9)| Target Center
17,136| 29–30|-style="background:#fcc;"| 60| February 17| Miami| | Miles Bridges (29)| P. J. Washington (14)| LaMelo Ball (14)| Spectrum Center
17,029| 29–31|-style="background:#cfc;"| 61| February 25| Toronto| | Oubre Jr., Rozier (23)| Bridges, Harrell, Plumlee (10)| Terry Rozier (9)| Spectrum Center
17,577| 30–31|-style="background:#fcc;"| 62| February 27| Detroit| | Terry Rozier (33)| Miles Bridges (10)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
15,348| 30–32|-style="background:#fcc;"| 63| February 28| @ Milwaukee| | LaMelo Ball (24) | Kelly Oubre Jr. (7)| Terry Rozier (8)| Fiserv Forum
17,341| 30–33|-style="background:#cfc;"| 64| March 2| @ Cleveland| | Terry Rozier (29)| Montrezl Harrell (9)| Terry Rozier (7)| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
19,019| 31–33|-style="background:#cfc;"| 65| March 5| San Antonio| | Terry Rozier (31)| Mason Plumlee (13)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
18,941| 32–33|-style="background:#fcc;"| 66| March 8| Brooklyn| | Bridges, Rozier (30)| Rozier, Washington (8)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
17,230| 32–34|-style="background:#fcc;"| 67| March 9| Boston| | Bridges, Washington (17)| Mason Plumlee (15)| Mason Plumlee (6)| Spectrum Center
18,066| 32–35|-style="background:#cfc;"| 68| March 11| @ New Orleans| | Miles Bridges (26)| Miles Bridges (8)| Ball, Bridges (9)| Smoothie King Center
16,838| 33–35|-style="background:#cfc;"| 69| March 14| @ Oklahoma City| | Terry Rozier (30)| Mason Plumlee (11)| Mason Plumlee (8)| Paycom Center
15,810| 34–35|-style="background:#cfc;"| 70| March 16| Atlanta| | LaMelo Ball (22)| Mason Plumlee (10)| LaMelo Ball (11)| Spectrum Center
16,648| 35–35|-style="background:#cfc;"| 71| March 19| Dallas| | Miles Bridges (23)| Bridges, Martin (8)| LaMelo Ball (7)| Spectrum Center
19,279| 36–35|-style="background:#cfc;"| 72| March 21| New Orleans| | Ball, Rozier (17)| Mason Plumlee (10)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Spectrum Center
13,351| 37–35|-style="background:#fcc;"| 73| March 23| New York| | LaMelo Ball (32)| Ball, Bridges (9)| Miles Bridges (9)| Spectrum Center
16,290| 37–36|-style="background:#cfc;"| 74| March 25| Utah| | Miles Bridges (26)| Bridges, Plumlee (11)| Ball, Washington (5)| Spectrum Center
19,162| 38–36|-style="background:#cfc;"| 75| March 27| @ Brooklyn| | LaMelo Ball (33)| P. J. Washington (11)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Barclays Center
18,166| 39–36|-style="background:#fcc;"| 76| March 28| Denver| | Miles Bridges (27)| Miles Bridges (11)| LaMelo Ball (11)| Spectrum Center
17,614| 39–37|-style="background:#cfc;"| 77| March 30| @ New York| | Miles Bridges (31)| Bridges, Washington (6)| LaMelo Ball (15)| Madison Square Garden
19,812| 40–37|-style="background:#fcc;"| 78| April 2| @ Philadelphia| | Miles Bridges (20)| Miles Bridges (5)| Terry Rozier (6)| Wells Fargo Center
21,509| 40–38|-style="background:#fcc;"| 79| April 5| @ Miami| | Miles Bridges (29)| Bridges, Plumlee, Washington (6)| LaMelo Ball (14)| FTX Arena
19,600| 40–39|-style="background:#cfc;"| 80| April 7| Orlando| | LaMelo Ball (26)| Ball, Rozier (8)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Spectrum Center
16,427| 41–39|-style="background:#cfc;"| 81| April 8| @ Chicago| | LaMelo Ball (24)| Montrezl Harrell (6)| LaMelo Ball (9)| United Center
21,461| 42–39|-style="background:#cfc;"| 82| April 10| Washington| | Terry Rozier (25)| LaMelo Ball (10)| LaMelo Ball (9)| Spectrum Center
18,465| 43–39

Play-in

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| April 13| @ Atlanta| | Lamelo Ball (26)| Martin, Washington (6)| Lamelo Ball (7)| State Farm Arena
18,137| 0–1

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
	PF	80	80	2,837	559	300	74	67	1,613	35.5	7.0	3.8	.9	.8	20.2
	SF	76	13	1,999	302	84	77	31	1,137	26.3	4.0	1.1	1.0	.4	15.0
	PG	75	75	2,422	501	571	119	30	1,508	32.3	6.7	7.6	1.6	.4	20.1
	SG	73	73	2,458	315	326	93	25	1,408	33.7	4.3	4.5	1.3	.3	19.3
	C	73	73	1,793	565	226	61	52	477	24.6	7.7	3.1	.8	.7	6.5
	SF	71	11	1,866	285	179	88	32	544	26.3	4.0	2.5	1.2	.5	7.7
	C	65	28	1,768	337	147	57	61	668	27.2	5.2	2.3	.9	.9	10.3
	SF	55	2	895	170	58	26	22	340	16.3	3.1	1.1	.5	.4	6.2
	C	50	5	367	86	13	9	21	150	7.3	1.7	.3	.2	.4	3.0
	SF	49	48	1,564	224	177	47	22	778	31.9	4.6	3.6	1.0	.4	15.9
^†	PG	37	1	511	57	98	20	10	168	13.8	1.5	2.6	.5	.3	4.5
	PF	33	0	262	43	19	8	11	67	7.9	1.3	.6	.2	.3	2.0
	SG	31	0	304	52	26	7	1	142	9.8	1.7	.8	.2	.0	4.6
^†	C	25	0	524	122	49	11	12	285	21.0	4.9	2.0	.4	.5	11.4
	C	21	0	63	11	4	1	2	22	3.0	.5	.2	.0	.1	1.0
^†	PG	17	0	219	21	24	7	3	141	12.9	1.2	1.4	.4	.2	8.3
^†	C	4	1	17	5	0	1	0	8	4.3	1.3	.0	.3	.0	2.0
	SG	2	0	7	0	1	1	0	1	3.5	.0	.5	.5	.0	.5
	SF	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	2.5	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Transactions

See main article: article and List of 2021–22 NBA season transactions.

Free agents

Re-signed

Player	Signed	Ref.

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team	Ref.
James Bouknight	August 3, 2021	UConn Huskies	^[4]
D. J. Carton	August 7, 2021	Marquette Golden Eagles	^[5]
Wes Iwundu	August 7, 2021	New Orleans Pelicans	^[6]
Kai Jones	August 3, 2021	Texas Longhorns	^[7]
Arnoldas Kulboka (TW)	August 3, 2021	Bilbao Basket	^[8]
Scottie Lewis (TW)	August 3, 2021	Florida Gators	^[9]
Kelly Oubre Jr.	August 7, 2021	Golden State Warriors	^[10]
Mason Plumlee	August 6, 2021	Detroit Pistons	^[11]
Ish Smith	August 7, 2021	Washington Wizards	^[12]
JT Thor	August 6, 2021	Auburn Tigers	^[13]

Subtractions

Player	Reason left	New team	Ref.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2022-04-22 . Hornets fire Borrego as coach after 4 seasons . 2022-04-30 . ESPN.com.
2. Web site: April 22, 2022 . Hornets Relieve James Borrego of Head Coaching Duties . April 22, 2022 . NBA.com.
3. Web site: Hornets acquire No. 19 pick in trade with Knicks. NBA.com. July 30, 2021. March 25, 2022.
4. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign James Bouknight and Kai Jones. NBA.com. August 3, 2021.
5. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign DJ Carton. NBA.com. August 7, 2021.
6. Web site: Hornets Acquire Wes Iwundu and Protected 2022 First-Round Pick in Three-Team Sign-and-Trade. NBA.com. August 7, 2021.
7. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign James Bouknight and Kai Jones. NBA.com. August 3, 2021.
8. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign Arnoldas Kulboka and Scottie Lewis To Two-Way Contracts. NBA.com. August 3, 2021.
9. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign Arnoldas Kulboka and Scottie Lewis To Two-Way Contracts. NBA.com. August 3, 2021.
10. Web site: Hornets Sign Kelly Oubre Jr.. NBA.com. August 7, 2021.
11. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Acquire Mason Plumlee and the Draft Rights to JT Thor. NBA.com. August 6, 2021.
12. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign Ish Smith. NBA.com. August 7, 2021.
13. Web site: Charlotte Hornets Sign Second-Round Selection JT Thor. NBA.com. August 6, 2021.