2024–25 Charlotte Hornets season

2024–25 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coach	Charles Lee
President	Fred Whitfield
General manager	Jeff Peterson
Owner(s)	Gabe Plotkin & Rick Schnall
Arena	Spectrum Center
Results
Record	19–61 (.238)
Place	Division: 4th (Southeast) Conference: 14th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	FanDuel Sports Network South · FanDuel Sports Network Southeast · Various networks (5 simulcasts)
Radio	WFNZ

The 2024–25 Charlotte Hornets season is the 35th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This also became the second season where Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall would take on majority ownership of the Hornets franchise after buying majority shares from Michael Jordan during the month of August 2023. On April 3, 2024, the Hornets announced that Steve Clifford would step down as head coach at the end of the 2023–24 season and move into a front-office advisory role. On May 9, 2024, the Hornets hired Charles Lee as their new head coach. On March 23, 2025, the Hornets were eliminated from playoff contention for the 9th season in a row following a 122–105 loss to the Miami Heat.

Draft

Main article: 2024 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position(s)	Nationality	College / club
1	6	Tidjane Salaün	PF	France	Cholet Basket
2	42	KJ Simpson	PG	United States	Colorado

The Hornets entered the draft (which was two days instead of one like it had been since the NBA draft was shortened down to two rounds back in 1989) with one first-round pick and one second-round pick. On the first night of the draft, the Hornets would select the French power forward Tidjane Salaün from the Cholet Basket in the recently rebranded LNB Élite as the 6th pick. Then, on the second day of the draft, the Hornets would select point guard KJ Simpson from the University of Colorado.

Roster

Charlotte Hornets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 1 LaMelo Ball  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-08-22 SPIRE Academy (OH) G 7 Damion Baugh (TW) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 2000-08-03 TCU F 0 Miles Bridges 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1998-03-21 Michigan State G 30 Seth Curry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1990-08-23 Duke C 14 Moussa Diabaté 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2002-01-21 Michigan F/C 67 Taj Gibson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1985-06-24 USC G/F 10 Josh Green 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2000-11-16 Arizona G/F 3 DaQuan Jeffries 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1997-08-30 Tulsa G 23 Tre Mann  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 2001-02-03 Florida G/F 24 Brandon Miller  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-11-22 Alabama G 9 Wendell Moore Jr. (TW) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2001-09-18 Duke C 11 Jusuf Nurkić 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 290 lb (132 kg) 1994-08-23 Bosnia and Herzegovina G/F 12 Josh Okogie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1998-09-01 Georgia Tech F 31 Tidjane Salaün 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 2005-08-10 France G 25 KJ Simpson (TW) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 2002-08-08 Colorado G 33 Jaylen Sims 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1998-12-11 UNC Wilmington G 8 Nick Smith Jr. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2004-04-18 Arkansas F 2 Grant Williams  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1998-11-30 Tennessee C 5 Mark Williams 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 2001-12-16 Duke

Head coach Charles Lee Assistant(s) Jermaine Bucknor Ryan Frazier Matt Hill Chris Jent Josh Longstaff Blaine Mueller Zach Peterson Lamar Skeeter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate (TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Updated: February 28, 2025

Standings

Division

Southeast Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y – Orlando Magic	40	40	.500	–	22‍–‍19	18‍–‍21	12‍–‍3	80
pi – Atlanta Hawks	37	42	.468	2.5	20‍–‍19	17‍–‍23	9‍–‍6	79
pi – Miami Heat	36	44	.450	4.0	19‍–‍21	17‍–‍23	10‍–‍5	80
o – Charlotte Hornets	19	61	.238	21.0	12‍–‍29	7‍–‍32	1‍–‍15	80
o – Washington Wizards	17	63	.213	23.0	8‍–‍33	9‍–‍30	6‍–‍9	80

Conference

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c – Cleveland Cavaliers *	63	16	.797	–	79
2	y – Boston Celtics *	59	21	.738	4.5	80
3	x – New York Knicks	50	29	.633	13.0	79
4	x – Indiana Pacers	48	31	.608	15.0	79
5	x – Milwaukee Bucks	45	34	.570	18.0	79
6	x – Detroit Pistons	43	36	.544	20.0	79
7	y – Orlando Magic *	40	40	.500	23.5	80
8	pi – Atlanta Hawks	37	42	.468	26.0	79
9	pi – Chicago Bulls	37	43	.463	26.5	80
10	pi – Miami Heat	36	44	.450	27.5	80
11	o – Toronto Raptors	30	50	.375	33.5	80
12	o – Brooklyn Nets	26	53	.329	37.0	79
13	o – Philadelphia 76ers	24	56	.300	39.5	80
14	o – Charlotte Hornets	19	61	.238	44.5	80
15	o – Washington Wizards	17	63	.213	46.5	80

Game log

Preseason

During the preseason, the Hornets would play their final games under what was previously named Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast. Bally Sports would rebrand itself to the FanDuel Sports Network before the start of the regular season.

2024 preseason game log Total: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
Preseason: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 6 New York L 109–111 LaMelo Ball (18) Nick Richards (9) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 10,486 0–1 2 October 8 Miami W 111–108 LaMelo Ball (24) Moussa Diabaté (10) Ball, Mann (4) Spectrum Center 10,093 1–1 3 October 10 @ Memphis W 119–94 Brandon Miller (22) Nick Richards (11) Vasilije Micić (4) FedExForum 13,411 2–1 4 October 15 @ New York L 105–111 Brandon Miller (26) Tidjane Salaün (8) LaMelo Ball (7) Madison Square Garden 19,355 2–2 5 October 17 @ Indiana L 116–121 (OT) Brandon Miller (20) Tidjane Salaün (14) KJ Simpson (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 11,835 2–3
2024–25 preseason schedule

Regular season

2024–25 game log Total: 19–61 (Home: 12–29; Road: 7–32)
October: 2–2 (home: 1–1; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 23 @ Houston W 110–105 LaMelo Ball (34) Miles Bridges (9) LaMelo Ball (11) Toyota Center 18,055 1–0 2 October 25 @ Atlanta L 120–125 LaMelo Ball (34) Nick Richards (13) Grant Williams (6) State Farm Arena 14,433 1–1 3 October 26 Miami L 106–114 LaMelo Ball (27) Nick Richards (12) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 19,102 1–2 4 October 30 Toronto W 138–133 Tre Mann (27) Nick Richards (14) LaMelo Ball (6) Spectrum Center 13,113 2–2
November: 4–12 (home: 4–6; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 5 November 1 Boston L 109–124 LaMelo Ball (31) Bridges, Diabaté, G. Williams (7) Tre Mann (5) Spectrum Center 18,557 2–3 6 November 2 Boston L 103–113 LaMelo Ball (36) Miles Bridges (8) Ball, Miller (6) Spectrum Center 19,253 2–4 7 November 4 @ Minnesota L 93–114 LaMelo Ball (19) Miles Bridges (6) Tre Mann (6) Target Center 18,978 2–5 8 November 6 Detroit W 108–107 Miles Bridges (27) Bridges, G. Williams (7) LaMelo Ball (8) Spectrum Center 13,247 3–5 9 November 8 Indiana W 103–83 LaMelo Ball (31) Moussa Diabaté (15) Ball, Miller (6) Spectrum Center 17,024 4–5 10 November 10 @ Philadelphia L 105–107 (OT) LaMelo Ball (38) Moussa Diabaté (11) LaMello Ball (8) Wells Fargo Center 19,764 4–6 11 November 12 @ Orlando L 89–114 LaMelo Ball (35) Moussa Diabaté (15) Ball, Miller (7) Kia Center 17,541 4–7 12 November 16 Milwaukee W 115–114 LaMelo Ball (26) Moussa Diabaté (14) LaMelo Ball (6) Spectrum Center 19,145 5–7 13 November 17 @ Cleveland L 114–128 LaMelo Ball (31) Grant Williams (9) LaMelo Ball (12) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 5–8 14 November 19 @ Brooklyn L 115–116 Brandon Miller (29) Tidjane Salaün (8) Tre Mann (6) Barclays Center 18,117 5–9 15 November 21 Detroit W 123–121 Brandon Miller (38) Moussa Diabaté (16) LaMelo Ball (9) Spectrum Center 14,671 6–9 16 November 23 @ Milwaukee L 119–125 LaMelo Ball (50) Diabaté, Miller (11) LaMelo Ball (10) Fiserv Forum 17,341 6–10 17 November 25 Orlando L 84–95 LaMelo Ball (44) Brandon Miller (10) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 14,898 6–11 18 November 27 Miami L 94–98 LaMelo Ball (32) Moussa Diabaté (11) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 17,710 6–12 19 November 29 New York L 98–99 Brandon Miller (20) Moussa Diabaté (11) Vasilije Micić (8) Spectrum Center 19,313 6–13 20 November 30 Atlanta L 104–107 Brandon Miller (32) Diabaté, Micić, Miller (8) Martin, Micić (5) Spectrum Center 17,969 6–14
December: 1–11 (home: 0–6; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 21 December 3 Philadelphia L 104–110 Brandon Miller (34) Nick Richards (14) KJ Simpson (9) Spectrum Center 14,956 6–15 22 December 5 @ New York L 101–125 Brandon Miller (26) Nick Richards (8) Vasilije Micić (12) Madison Square Garden 19,812 6–16 23 December 7 Cleveland L 102–116 Brandon Miller (25) Cody Martin (9) Vasilije Micić (7) Spectrum Center 18,832 6–17 24 December 8 @ Indiana W 113–109 Brandon Miller (26) Nick Richards (14) Vasilije Micić (9) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 17,274 7–17 25 December 13 @ Chicago L 95–109 Brandon Miller (21) Bridges, M. Williams (9) Vasilije Micić (5) United Center 19,543 7–18 26 December 16 Philadelphia L 108–121 Miles Bridges (24) Miles Bridges (6) LaMelo Ball (11) Spectrum Center 14,677 7–19 27 December 19 @ Washington L 114–123 LaMelo Ball (34) Bridges, M. Williams (8) LaMelo Ball (13) Capital One Arena 15,256 7–20 28 December 20 @ Philadelphia L 98–108 Vasilije Micić (20) Tidjane Salaün (8) Tidjane Salaün (5) Wells Fargo Center 20,291 7–21 29 December 23 Houston L 101–114 Miles Bridges (24) Mark Williams (9) LaMelo Ball (8) Spectrum Center 19,134 7–22 30 December 26 @ Washington L 110–113 LaMelo Ball (31) Miles Bridges (14) Brandon Miller (9) Capital One Arena 17,193 7–23 31 December 28 Oklahoma City L 94–106 Miles Bridges (19) Bridges, M. Williams (10) Miles Bridges (6) Spectrum Center 19,325 7–24 32 December 30 Chicago L 108–115 (OT) Miles Bridges (31) Bridges, M. Williams (12) Miles Bridges (8) Spectrum Center 19,197 7–25
January: 5–8 (home: 3–4; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 January 3 @ Detroit L 94–98 Miles Bridges (20) Bridges, M. Williams (9) Bridges, Micić, Richards (5) Little Caesars Arena 18,866 7–26 34 January 5 @ Cleveland L 105–115 Ball, Miller (24) Salaün, M. Williams (9) Cody Martin (5) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 19,432 7–27 35 January 7 Phoenix W 115–104 LaMelo Ball (32) Nick Richards (12) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 16,647 8–27 — January 9 @ L.A. Lakers Postponed due to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. Makeup date February 19. — January 11 @ L.A. Clippers Postponed due to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. Makeup date March 16. 36 January 12 @ Phoenix L 113–120 LaMelo Ball (25) Mark Williams (16) LaMelo Ball (11) Footprint Center 17,071 8–28 37 January 15 @ Utah W 117–112 Mark Williams (31) Mark Williams (13) LaMelo Ball (9) Delta Center 18,175 9–28 38 January 17 @ Chicago W 125–123 LaMelo Ball (26) Mark Williams (19) LaMelo Ball (9) United Center 20,598 10–28 39 January 20 Dallas W 110–105 Ball, Bridges (23) Mark Williams (13) LaMelo Ball (9) Spectrum Center 19,314 11–28 40 January 22 @ Memphis L 120–132 Mark Williams (38) Mark Williams (9) Ball, Bridges (6) FedExForum 15,971 11–29 41 January 24 Portland L 97–102 Nick Smith Jr. (17) Josh Okogie (10) Nick Smith Jr. (5) Spectrum Center 16,228 11–30 42 January 25 New Orleans W 123–92 LaMelo Ball (25) Moussa Diabaté (13) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 18,461 12–30 43 January 27 L.A. Lakers L 107–112 Miles Bridges (26) Bridges, M. Williams (8) Nick Smith Jr. (6) Spectrum Center 19,483 12–31 44 January 29 Brooklyn L 83–104 Miles Bridges (23) Miles Bridges (13) Vasilije Micić (6) Spectrum Center 14,307 12–32 45 January 31 L.A. Clippers L 104–112 Miles Bridges (27) Moussa Diabaté (14) Miles Bridges (6) Spectrum Center 15,342 12–33
February: 2–11 (home: 1–3; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 46 February 1 Denver L 104–107 Miles Bridges (24) Mark Williams (15) KJ Simpson (8) Spectrum Center 19,106 12–34 47 February 3 Washington L 114–124 Bridges, Smith Jr. (24) Mark Williams (14) Miles Bridges (10) Spectrum Center 14,129 12–35 48 February 5 Milwaukee L 102–112 Nick Smith Jr. (23) Moussa Diabaté (13) Miles Bridges (6) Spectrum Center 14,385 12–36 49 February 7 San Antonio W 117–116 Miles Bridges (25) Moussa Diabaté (15) LaMelo Ball (10) Spectrum Center 19,290 13–36 50 February 9 @ Detroit L 102–112 Miles Bridges (30) Miles Bridges (9) KJ Simpson (6) Little Caesars Arena 18,740 13–37 51 February 10 @ Brooklyn L 89–97 Moussa Diabaté (21) Moussa Diabaté (10) Nick Smith Jr. (5) Barclays Center 16,013 13–38 52 February 12 @ Orlando L 86–102 Miles Bridges (19) Taj Gibson (12) Elfrid Payton (7) Kia Center 18,947 13–39 All-Star Game 53 February 19 @ L.A. Lakers W 100–97 Miles Bridges (29) Mark Williams (9) Jusuf Nurkić (7) Crypto.com Arena 18,997 14–39 54 February 20 @ Denver L 115–129 Miles Bridges (36) Miles Bridges (13) Bridges, Nurkić (7) Ball Arena 19,870 14–40 55 February 22 @ Portland L 88–141 Miles Bridges (17) Jusuf Nurkić (8) Jusuf Nurkić (5) Moda Center 18,501 14–41 56 February 24 @ Sacramento L 88–130 Miles Bridges (23) Jusuf Nurkić (9) LaMelo Ball (9) Golden 1 Center 17,832 14–42 57 February 25 @ Golden State L 92–128 KJ Simpson (16) Mark Williams (12) Damion Baugh (5) Chase Center 18,064 14–43 58 February 27 @ Dallas L 96–103 Mark Williams (26) Mark Williams (16) Nick Smith Jr. (7) American Airlines Center 20,009 14–44
March: 5–12 (home: 3–6; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 1 Washington L 100–113 Mark Williams (24) Mark Williams (12) Miles Bridges (7) Spectrum Center 17,904 14–45 60 March 3 Golden State L 101–119 Miles Bridges (35) Mark Williams (13) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 19,223 14–46 61 March 5 Minnesota L 110–125 LaMelo Ball (28) LaMelo Ball (10) LaMelo Ball (6) Spectrum Center 17,578 14–47 62 March 7 Cleveland L 117–118 Miles Bridges (46) Jusuf Nurkić (15) LaMelo Ball (7) Spectrum Center 19,296 14–48 63 March 8 Brooklyn W 105–102 Miles Bridges (26) Moussa Diabaté (15) Bridges, Green (5) Spectrum Center 18,652 15–48 64 March 10 @ Miami W 105–102 Miles Bridges (35) Mark Williams (10) LaMelo Ball (10) Kaseya Center 19,600 16–48 65 March 12 @ Atlanta L 110–123 Miles Bridges (31) Mark Williams (14) LaMelo Ball (9) State Farm Arena 15,901 16–49 66 March 14 @ San Antonio W 145–134 LaMelo Ball (27) Mark Williams (10) LaMelo Ball (15) Frost Bank Center 18,510 17–49 67 March 16 @ L.A. Clippers L 88–123 Mark Williams (18) Mark Williams (15) Mark Williams (7) Intuit Dome 17,927 17–50 68 March 18 Atlanta L 102–134 Curry, Jeffries (19) Damion Baugh (9) Baugh, M. Williams (5) Spectrum Center 15,341 17–51 69 March 20 New York W 115–98 LaMelo Ball (25) Mark Williams (14) LaMelo Ball (8) Spectrum Center 18,557 18–51 70 March 21 @ Oklahoma City L 106–141 Miles Bridges (20) Jusuf Nurkić (9) KJ Simpson (8) Paycom Center 18,203 18–52 71 March 23 @ Miami L 105–122 Nick Smith Jr. (19) Miles Bridges (13) LaMelo Ball (11) Kaseya Center 19,700 18–53 72 March 25 Orlando L 104–111 LaMelo Ball (25) Mark Williams (13) LaMelo Ball (9) Spectrum Center 14,639 18–54 73 March 28 @ Toronto L 97–108 Mark Williams (18) Tidjane Salaün (14) Miles Bridges (6) Scotiabank Arena 19,276 18–55 74 March 30 @ New Orleans L 94–98 Miles Bridges (20) Jusuf Nurkić (12) Jusuf Nurkić (5) Spectrum Center 17,490 18–56 75 March 31 Utah W 110–106 Miles Bridges (26) Mark Williams (13) Miles Bridges (8) Spectrum Center 14,410 19–56
April: 0–5 (home: 0–3; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 76 April 2 @ Indiana L 105–119 Miles Bridges (18) Mark Williams (12) Miles Bridges (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 16,042 19–57 77 April 4 Sacramento L 102–125 Miles Bridges (22) Moussa Diabaté (11) Simpson, Sims (4) Spectrum Center 15,896 19–58 78 April 6 Chicago L 117–131 Mark Williams (22) Mark Williams (9) KJ Simpson (7) Spectrum Center 18,499 19–59 79 April 8 Memphis L 100–124 Miles Bridges (14) Tidjane Salaün (9) Bridges, Salaün, Sims (3) Spectrum Center 17,125 19–60 80 April 9 @ Toronto L 96–126 Nick Smith Jr. (28) Jusuf Nurkić (9) Nick Smith Jr. (10) Scotiabank Arena 19,800 19–61 81 April 11 @ Boston TD Garden 82 April 13 @ Boston TD Garden
2024–25 season schedule

NBA Cup

Main article: 2024 NBA Cup

The groups were revealed during the tournament announcement on July 12, 2024.

East Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Qualification
1	New York Knicks	4	4	0	455	425	+30	Advance to knockout stage
2	Orlando Magic	4	3	1	441	396	+45
3	Philadelphia 76ers	4	2	2	408	411	−3
4	Brooklyn Nets	4	1	3	436	475	−39
5	Charlotte Hornets	4	0	4	406	439	−33

Source: NBA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Transactions

Main article: List of 2024–25 NBA season transactions

Trades

July 6, 2024	To Charlotte Hornets Devonte' Graham 2025 NOP second-round pick	To San Antonio Spurs Cash considerations
July 6, 2024	Six-team trade
	To Charlotte Hornets Josh Green (from Dallas) Reggie Jackson (from Denver) 2029 DEN second-round pick (from Denver) 2030 DEN second-round pick (from Denver)	To Dallas Mavericks Klay Thompson (from Golden State) 2025 GSW second-round pick (from Golden State)
	To Denver Nuggets Cash considerations (from Charlotte)	To Golden State Warriors Kyle Anderson (from Minnesota) Buddy Hield (from Philadelphia)
	To Minnesota Timberwolves 2025 DEN second-round pick (from Golden State via Charlotte) 2031 second-round pick swap (from Golden State) Cash considerations (from Golden State)	To Philadelphia 76ers 2031 DAL second-round pick (from Golden State via Dallas)
October 2, 2024	Three-team trade
	To Charlotte Hornets Charlie Brown Jr. (from New York) DaQuan Jeffries (from New York) Duane Washington Jr. (from New York) 2025 MIN second-round pick (from Minnesota) 2026 GSW second-round pick (from New York) 2031 NYK second-round pick(from New York) Cash considerations (from New York)	To New York Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns (from Minnesota) Draft rights to James Nnaji (2023 No. 31) (from Charlotte)
	To Minnesota Timberwolves Keita Bates-Diop (from New York) Donte DiVincenzo (from New York) Julius Randle (from New York) 2025 DET first-round pick (from New York)

Free agency

Re-signed

Date	Player	Ref.
July 14	Miles Bridges
July 15	Seth Curry

Additions

Date	Player	Former team	Ref.
July 13	Taj Gibson	Detroit Pistons

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason left	New team	Ref.
July 3	Marques Bolden	Waived
July 6	Dāvis Bertāns	Waived	BC Dubai
	Bryce McGowens		Portland Trail Blazers
	Aleksej Pokuševski		KK Partizan
	Devonte' Graham		Portland Trail Blazers
July 23	Reggie Jackson	Waived	Philadelphia 76ers