The 1989–90 NBA season was the Charlotte Hornets' second season in the National Basketball Association. In the 1989 NBA draft, the Hornets selected J.R. Reid from the University of North Carolina with the fifth overall pick. The Hornets moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference, also switching from the Atlantic Division to the Midwest Division for the season. In December, the team traded Kurt Rambis to the Phoenix Suns for Armen Gilliam. Gilliam would lead the Hornets in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game. Head Coach Dick Harter was replaced by Gene Littles at midseason, following a disappointing 8–32 start. The team finished the season with a record of 19 wins and 63 losses, one game worse than the previous year. Reid was named to the All-Rookie Second Team. Despite the lack of success on the court, the Hornets sold out every home game, finishing second in the NBA in attendance during the season.
Draft picks
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Player statistics
Awards and records
J. R. Reid, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team
Transactions
August 16, 1989
Signed Clifford Lett as a free agent. September 11, 1989 Traded Tim Kempton to the Denver Nuggets for a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Kevin Lynch was later selected).
Signed Jerry Sichting as a free agent. September 26, 1989 Signed Kenny Gattison as a free agent. September 28, 1989 Signed Terry Dozier as a free agent. October 5, 1989 Signed Andre Turner as a free agent. October 17, 1989 Traded Robert Reid to the Portland Trail Blazers for Richard Anderson. October 19, 1989 Waived Kenny Gattison. October 23, 1989 Waived Clifford Lett. October 31, 1989 Waived Andre Turner. November 1, 1989 Andre Turner claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Clippers. November 23, 1989 Signed Andre Turner as a free agent. November 25, 1989 Greg Kite signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Sacramento Kings. November 27, 1989 Waived Terry Dozier. December 2, 1989 Signed Kenny Gattison as a free agent. December 3, 1989 Waived Andre Turner. December 13, 1989 Traded Kurt Rambis, a 1990 2nd round draft pick (Negele Knight was later selected) and a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Chad Gallagher was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Armen Gilliam.
Signed Robert Reid as a free agent. February 22, 1990 Traded Stuart Gray to the New York Knicks for a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Jimmy Oliver was later selected).
Traded a 1991 2nd round draft pick (Jimmy Oliver was later selected) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Randolph Keys. February 23, 1990 Waived Jerry Sichting. March 13, 1990 Signed Micheal Williams to the first of two 10-day contracts. April 2, 1990 Signed Micheal Williams to a contract for the rest of the season. April 14, 1990 Signed Ralph Lewis to a 10-day contract.
Player Transactions Citation: