After 34 Seasons, the Charlotte Hornets Still Have Zero Championship Rings

The History of the Charlotte Hornets and Their Lack of Championship Rings

The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The original Hornets franchise was established in 1988 as an expansion team, owned by George Shinn. In 2002, Shinn's demands for a new arena and the financial losses made by the team led the Hornets to relocate to New Orleans, where they rebranded as the New Orleans Hornets. The NBA then awarded a new franchise, also called the Charlotte Hornets, to the city of Charlotte in 2004. The new Hornets first participated in the 2004–05 NBA season.

The Original Charlotte Hornets (1988-2002)

The original Hornets franchise was established in 1988 as an NBA expansion team, owned by George Shinn. They were the first franchise to begin play in the 1988–89 NBA season. They had some decent success in the 1990s, making the playoffs seven times and advancing to the second round twice. Some of the star players during this era included Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice, and Muggsy Bogues.

However, the team began to experience financial struggles playing in the undersized Charlotte Coliseum. In 2001, George Shinn relocated the team to New Orleans, where they were renamed the New Orleans Hornets. As part of a compromise with the NBA, the league promised Charlotte an expansion franchise, which would eventually become the new Charlotte Bobcats (later re-branded as the Hornets again).

The New Charlotte Hornets (Since 2004)

In 2004, the NBA awarded a new franchise to Charlotte, owned by Robert L. Johnson. The new team would take the Hornets name, while the New Orleans team would temporarily be named the New Orleans Pelicans until purchasing the rights to the Hornets name back from Charlotte in 2013.

The revived Charlotte Hornets have yet to find much success, qualifying for the playoffs only three times since 2004. They had a few competitive teams behind stars like Gerald Wallace, Kemba Walker, and Al Jefferson, but only advanced past the first round once in the 2015-2016 season.

In 2019, the Hornets struck gold by drafting LaMelo Ball with the 3rd overall pick. Ball went on to become the Rookie of the Year and re-energized the fanbase as an All-Star caliber point guard. However, the team has still yet to win a playoff series during Ball's tenure.

Why the Lack of Championship Rings?

In their 34 seasons of existence, the Charlotte Hornets have never made the NBA Finals or won a championship. As a result, they have no championship rings in their trophy case.

Here are some of the main reasons for their lack of playoff success over the years:

• Inability to retain star players: The original Hornets lost stars like Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Glen Rice in their primes.
• Poor drafting: Failed to land franchise-changing superstars in the draft besides LaMelo Ball.
• Injuries: Stars like Baron Davis and Al Jefferson had shortened peaks due to devastating injuries.
• Mediocrity: Made playoffs 10 times but were mostly a middle-of-the-pack team lacking true championship pedigree.
• Tough competition out West early on: Had to contend with powerhouses like the Lakers, Spurs, Jazz in the late 90s/early 2000s.
• Tough competition in the East lately: Recent playoff losses to powerhouses like the Heat and the Raptors.

The Future is Bright

While the lack of championship success has been disappointing for Hornets fans, the future looks brighter than ever. Under the leadership of LaMelo Ball and a solid young core including Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, and James Bouknight, the Hornets are hoping to become real contenders in the Eastern Conference.

If Ball can continue developing into a bonafide NBA superstar, he may be able to carry the franchise deeper into the playoffs. They will need to build a strong supporting cast around him and hopefully retain some chemistry over the next few years. The 2022 free agency period will be crucial for the team's success moving forward.

Bringing a championship to Charlotte remains the ultimate goal. It will take a perfect blend of talent, health, and luck to make it happen. But for the first time in a long time, Hornets fans have real reason to remain hopeful that the team can soon open its ring collection.

FAQs

Why have the Hornets never won a championship?

The Hornets have struggled to retain star players, had poor drafting, untimely injuries to stars, and faced tough competition during their playoff runs throughout their history. They've never had the elite superstar talent or complete roster to win a championship.

How many playoffs have the Hornets made?

The Hornets franchise has made the playoffs 10 times, with playoff berths in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010 and 2016.

Who are the best players in Hornets history?

The best players are likely Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Glen Rice, Eddie Jones, Baron Davis, Kemba Walker and LaMelo Ball.

What years did the original Charlotte Hornets exist?

The original Charlotte Hornets were an NBA franchise from 1988 to 2002 before relocating to New Orleans. The current Hornets team was created in 2004.

Will LaMelo Ball lead the Hornets to a championship?

LaMelo Ball is giving Hornets fans real hope for the future. If he can become a true NBA superstar and get a strong supporting cast around him, he has the potential to lead the Hornets on a deep playoff run and possibly their first ever championship.