2015–16 Charlotte Hornets season

The 2015–16 Charlotte Hornets season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the fourth season under head coach Steve Clifford. With 48–34 record, the Hornets qualified for the playoffs for the tenth time in Charlotte pro basketball history as a sixth seed, where they played the third-seeded Miami Heat. In a tight playoff match, the Hornets lost the first two games in Miami, before winning three straight. Miami took games 6 and 7, winning the series.

2015–16 Charlotte Hornets season
Head coach	Steve Clifford
General manager	Rich Cho
Owners	Michael Jordan
Arena	Time Warner Cable Arena
Results
Record	48–34 (.585)
Place	Division: 3rd (Southeast) Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First Round (Lost to Heat 3–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Carolinas, Fox Sports Southeast
Radio	WFNZ

As of 2020, this marked the last season the Hornets made the playoffs.

2015 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/club team
1	9	Frank Kaminsky	Center	United States	Wisconsin
2	39	Juan Pablo Vaulet	Small forward	Argentina	Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca

Roster

Roster listing

2015–16 Charlotte Hornets roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From G/F 5 Batum, Nicolas 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–12–14 France G 30 Daniels, Troy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1991–07–15 Virginia Commonwealth G 12 Gutiérrez, Jorge 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1988–12–27 California F 50 Hansbrough, Tyler 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1985–11–03 North Carolina G 9 Harrison, Aaron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1994–10–28 Kentucky C 00 Hawes, Spencer 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1988–04–28 Washington C 25 Jefferson, Al 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 289 lb (131 kg) 1985–01–04 Prentiss HS (MS) C 44 Kaminsky, Frank 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1993–04–04 Wisconsin F 14 Kidd-Gilchrist, Michael  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1993–09–26 Kentucky G 3 Lamb, Jeremy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1992–05–30 Connecticut G 1 Lee, Courtney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1985–10–03 Western Kentucky G 7 Lin, Jeremy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–08–23 Harvard G 15 Walker, Kemba (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1990–05–08 Connecticut F 2 Williams, Marvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 237 lb (108 kg) 1986–06–19 North Carolina F/C 40 Zeller, Cody 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1992–10–05 Indiana	Head coach Steve Clifford Assistant coach(es) Patrick Ewing (associate HC) Stephen Silas Bob Weiss Pat Delany Bruce Kreutzer Steve Hetzel Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate Injured Roster Last transaction: 2016–04–03

Preseason

2015 pre-season game log
Pre-season: 7–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 4–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 3 @ Orlando 106–100 Jeremy Lin (17) Al Jefferson (9) Kemba Walker (8) Amway Center 14,942 1–0 2 October 4 @ Miami 90–77 Brian Roberts (21) Frank Kaminsky (11) Kaminsky, Roberts (3) American Airlines Arena 19,600 2–0 3 October 11 L. A. Clippers 106–94 Lin, Zeller (16) Spencer Hawes (13) Kemba Walker (5) Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre 17,376 3–0 4 October 14 @ L. A. Clippers 113–71 Al Jefferson (17) Nicolas Batum (10) Nicolas Batum (5) Mercedes-Benz Arena 15,905 4–0 5 October 17 New York 97–93 Al Jefferson (12) Hansbrough, Kaminsky (8) Frank Kaminsky (3) Time Warner Cable Arena 11,632 5–0 6 October 19 Chicago 94–86 Kemba Walker (22) Jeremy Lin (8) Jeremy Lin (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 8,769 6–0 7 October 21 @ Detroit 99–94 Batum, Lin (18) Nicolas Batum (10) Nicolas Batum (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills 11,096 7–0 8 October 22 @ Indiana 86–98 Frank Kaminsky (19) Hansbrough, Zeller (9) Brian Roberts (5) Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 10,744 7–1
2015–16 season schedule

Regular season

Game log

2015–16 game log Total: 48–34 (Home: 30–11; Road: 18–23)
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 28 @ Miami L 94–104 Kemba Walker (19) Cody Zeller (12) Kemba Walker (4) American Airlines Arena 19,724 0–1 2 October 30 @ Atlanta L 94–97 Nicolas Batum (14) Nicolas Batum (12) Kemba Walker (6) Philips Arena 17,024 0–2
November : 10–5 (Home: 8–2; Road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 1 Atlanta L 92–94 Kemba Walker (20) Al Jefferson (10) Nicolas Batum (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,691 0–3 4 November 3 Chicago W 130–105 Jeremy Lamb (20) Marvin Williams (10) Kemba Walker (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,136 1–3 5 November 5 @ Dallas W 108–94 Al Jefferson (31) Marvin Williams (12) Kemba Walker (7) American Airlines Center 19,635 2–3 6 November 7 @ San Antonio L 94–114 Kemba Walker (23) Al Jefferson (7) Batum, Walker (4) AT&T Center 18,418 2–4 7 November 10 @ Minnesota W 104–95 Jeremy Lin (19) Marvin Williams (10) Kemba Walker (6) Target Center 14,722 3–4 8 November 11 New York W 95–93 Nicolas Batum (24) Batum, Jefferson (5) Spencer Hawes (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 16,643 4-4 9 November 13 @ Chicago L 97–102 Nicolas Batum (28) Lamb, Walker (9) Kemba Walker (7) United Center 21,749 4–5 10 November 15 Portland W 106–94 Nicolas Batum (33) Nicolas Batum (6) Marvin Williams (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,317 5–5 11 November 17 @ New York L 94–102 Kemba Walker (31) Batum, Lamb (6) Lamb, Lin (3) Madison Square Garden 19,812 5–6 12 November 18 Brooklyn W 116–111 Nicolas Batum (24) Lin, Williams (9) Nicolas Batum (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 14,040 6–6 13 November 20 Philadelphia W 113–88 Al Jefferson (26) Al Jefferson (10) Kemba Walker (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,926 7–6 14 November 23 Sacramento W 127–122 (OT) Kemba Walker (39) Nicolas Batum (10) Nicolas Batum (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 14,163 8–6 15 November 25 Washington W 101–87 Walker, Batum (16) Jefferson, Williams (11) Nicolas Batum (11) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,064 9–6 16 November 27 Cleveland L 90–95 Kemba Walker (18) Lamb, Batum (8) Batum, Lin, Walker (4) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,093 9–7 17 November 29 Milwaukee W 87–82 Kemba Walker (22) Jeremy Lamb (9) Nicolas Batum (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 14,224 10–7
December : 7–7 (Home: 5–4; Road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 18 December 2 Golden State L 99–116 Nicolas Batum (17) Nicolas Batum (8) Brian Roberts (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,542 10–8 19 December 5 @ Chicago W 102–96 Nicolas Batum (24) Nicolas Batum (11) Batum, Walker (5) United Center 21,770 11–8 20 December 7 Detroit W 104–84 Cody Zeller (20) Marvin Williams (12) Nicholas Batum (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,481 12–8 21 December 9 Miami W 99–81 Walker, Williams (18) Nicolas Batum (11) Nicolas Batum (11) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,404 13–8 22 December 11 @ Memphis W 123–99 Kemba Walker (33) Kaminsky, Williams (6) Kemba Walker (6) FedEx Forum 17,111 14–8 23 December 12 Boston L 93–98 Nicolas Batum (21) Batum, Hawes (8) Kemba Walker (4) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,490 14–9 24 December 16 @ Orlando L 98–113 Jeremy Lamb (16) Kaminsky, Lamb, Williams (5) Kemba Walker (9) Amway Center 16,019 14–10 25 December 17 Toronto W 109–99 (OT) Jeremy Lin (35) Hawes, Williams (10) Kemba Walker (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,817 15–10 26 December 19 @ Washington L 101–109 Kemba Walker (18) Marvin Williams (9) Nicolas Batum (8) Verizon Center 16,987 15–11 27 December 21 @ Houston L 95–102 Kemba Walker (14) Cody Zeller (7) Kemba Walker (6) Toyota Center 18,236 15–12 28 December 23 Boston L 89–102 Frank Kaminsky (23) Cody Zeller (10) Nicolas Batum (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,082 15–13 29 December 26 Memphis W 98–92 Kemba Walker (22) Nicolas Batum (11) Batum, Walker (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,091 16–13 30 December 28 L.A. Lakers W 108–98 Kemba Walker (38) Marvin Williams (11) Nicolas Batum (11) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,632 17–13 31 December 30 L.A. Clippers L 117–122 Kemba Walker (29) Batum, Zeller (8) Kemba Walker (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,145 17–14
January : 6–11 (Home: 3–2; Road: 3–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 1 @ Toronto L 94–104 Kemba Walker (18) Cody Zeller (9) Nicolas Batum (7) Air Canada Centre 19,800 17–15 33 January 2 Oklahoma City L 90–109 Kemba Walker (32) Marvin Williams (8) Kemba Walker (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,387 17–16 34 January 4 @ Golden State L 101–111 Kemba Walker (22) Cody Zeller (10) Spencer Hawes (4) Oracle Arena 19,596 17–17 35 January 6 @ Phoenix L 102–111 Kemba Walker (25) Cody Zeller (11) Kemba Walker (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena 16,910 17–18 36 January 9 @ L.A. Clippers L 83–97 Jeremy Lin (26) Lamb, Zeller (13) Jeremy Lin (4) Staples Center 19,060 17–19 37 January 10 @ Denver L 92–95 Lamb, Zeller (15) Jeremy Lamb (8) Nicolas Batum (7) Pepsi Center 11,343 17–20 38 January 13 Atlanta W 107–84 Kemba Walker (23) Cody Zeller (10) Nicolas Batum (10) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,334 18–20 39 January 15 @ New Orleans L 107–109 Batum, Walker (25) Cody Zeller (8) Nicolas Batum (8) Smoothie King Center 16,876 18–21 40 January 16 Milwaukee L 92–105 Jeremy Lin (15) Spencer Hawes (9) Nicolas Batum (9) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,288 18–22 41 January 18 Utah W 124–119 (OT) Kemba Walker (52) Batum, Walker (9) Kemba Walker (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,459 19–22 42 January 20 @ Oklahoma City L 95–109 Kemba Walker (21) Batum, Hawes, Kaminsky (6) Frank Kaminsky (4) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 19–23 43 January 22 @ Orlando W 120–116 (OT) Kemba Walker (40) Marvin Williams (14) Kemba Walker (9) Amway Center 18,083 20–23 44 January 23 New York W 97–84 Lin, Walker (26) Marvin Williams (12) Lin, Walker (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,768 21–23 45 January 25 @ Sacramento W 129–128 (2OT) Troy Daniels (28) Frank Kaminsky (8) Jeremy Lin (11) Sleep Train Arena 16,991 22–23 46 January 27 @ Utah L 73–102 Kemba Walker (15) Nicolas Batum (10) Batum, Hawes (2) Vivint Smart Home Arena 16,683 22–24 47 January 29 @ Portland L 91–109 Marvin Williams (20) Tyler Hansbrough (14) Nicolas Batum (8) Moda Center 19,393 22–25 48 January 31 @ L.A. Lakers W 101–82 Marvin Williams (19) Kidd-Gilchrist, Williams (12) Kemba Walker (6) Staples Center 18,997 23–25
February : 7–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 49 February 3 Cleveland W 106–97 Jeremy Lin (24) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (13) Jeremy Lin (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,189 24–25 50 February 5 Miami L 95–98 Marvin Williams (27) Cody Zeller (8) Nicolas Batum (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,147 24–26 51 February 6 Washington W 108–104 Nicolas Batum (26) Nicolas Batum (11) Nicolas Batum (9) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,450 25–26 52 February 8 Chicago W 108–91 Kemba Walker (30) Nicolas Batum (13) Batum, Walker (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,886 26–26 53 February 10 @ Indiana W 117–95 Kemba Walker (25) Cody Zeller (11) Nicolas Batum (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 15,653 27–26 All-Star Break 54 February 19 @ Milwaukee W 98–95 Kemba Walker (25) Cody Zeller (9) Kemba Walker (4) BMO Harris Bradley Center 16,370 28–26 55 February 21 @ Brooklyn W 104–96 Kemba Walker (28) Marvin Williams (12) Nicolas Batum (8) Barclays Center 16,155 29–26 56 February 24 @ Cleveland L 103–114 Kemba Walker (20) Marvin Williams (10) Batum, Walker (6) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 29–27 57 February 26 @ Indiana W 96–95 Marvin Williams (26) Marvin Williams (13) Kemba Walker (10) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 18,165 30–27 58 February 28 @ Atlanta L 76–87 Marvin Williams (16) Marvin Williams (9) Kemba Walker (5) Philips Arena 17,156 30–28
March : 13–3 (Home: 8–2; Road: 5–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 1 Phoenix W 126–92 Kemba Walker (26) Nicolas Batum (9) Kemba Walker (9) Time Warner Cable Arena 16,849 31–28 60 March 2 @ Philadelphia W 119–99 Kemba Walker (30) Marvin Williams (9) Nicolas Batum (7) Wells Fargo Center 11,143 32–28 61 March 4 Indiana W 108–101 Kemba Walker (33) Cody Zeller (11) Kemba Walker (10) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,099 33–28 62 March 7 Minnesota W 108–103 Kemba Walker (34) Walker, Williams (7) Kemba Walker (6) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,912 34–28 63 March 9 New Orleans W 122–113 Kemba Walker (35) Cody Zeller (8) Kemba Walker (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 16,335 35–28 64 March 11 Detroit W 118–103 Marvin Williams (22) Lee, Williams (6) Nicholas Batum (11) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,189 36–28 65 March 12 Houston W 125–109 Kemba Walker (26) Al Jefferson (10) Nicholas Batum (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,303 37–28 66 March 14 Dallas L 96–107 Kemba Walker (25) Cody Zeller (9) Kemba Walker (9) Time Warner Cable Arena 15,686 37–29 67 March 16 Orlando W 107–99 Batum, Williams (26) Cody Zeller (13) Nicholas Batum (9) Time Warner Cable Arena 16,148 38–29 68 March 17 @ Miami W 109–106 Jefferson, Walker (21) Al Jefferson (10) Batum, Walker (7) American Airlines Arena 19,848 39–29 69 March 19 Denver L 93–101 Nicolas Batum (24) Nicolas Batum (8) Nicolas Batum (9) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,271 39–30 70 March 21 San Antonio W 91–88 Jeremy Lin (29) Cody Zeller (14) Batum, Zeller (3) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,260 40–30 71 March 22 @ Brooklyn W 105–100 Nicolas Batum (22) Frank Kaminsky (7) Jefferson, Lin, Walker (4) Barclays Center 15,739 41–30 72 March 25 @ Detroit L 105–112 Kemba Walker (29) Al Jefferson (7) Nicholas Batum (7) Palace of Auburn Hills 17,209 41–31 73 March 26 @ Milwaukee W 115–91 Nicholas Batum (25) Marvin Williams (8) Nicholas Batum (8) BMO Harris Bradley Center 15,544 42–31 74 March 29 @ Philadelphia W 100–85 Nicholas Batum (19) Nicholas Batum (12) Nicholas Batum (12) Wells Fargo Center 14,486 43–31
April : 5–3 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 75 April 1 Philadelphia W 100–91 Kemba Walker (27) Kemba Walker (11) Nicholas Batum (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,244 44–31 76 April 3 @ Cleveland L 103–112 Kemba Walker (29) Spencer Hawes (9) Kemba Walker (7) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 44–32 77 April 5 @ Toronto L 90–96 Jeremy Lin (21) Al Jefferson (11) Jeremy Lin (7) Air Canada Centre 19,800 44–33 78 April 6 @ New York W 111–97 Kemba Walker (34) Al Jefferson (8) Courtney Lee (6) Madison Square Garden 19,812 45–33 79 April 8 Brooklyn W 113–99 Kemba Walker (22) Al Jefferson (9) Nicholas Batum (6) Time Warner Cable Arena 18,337 46–33 80 April 10 @ Washington L 98–113 Frank Kaminsky (18) Frank Kaminsky (11) Kemba Walker (7) Verizon Center 19,187 46–34 81 April 11 @ Boston W 114–100 Jeremy Lin (25) Al Jefferson (11) Kemba Walker (6) TD Garden 18,624 47–34 82 April 13 Orlando W 117–103 Al Jefferson (26) Jeremy Lamb (9) Kemba Walker (8) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,372 48–34
2015–16 season schedule

Playoffs

Game log

2016 playoff game log Total: 3–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–3)
First Round: 3–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 17 @ Miami L 91–123 Nicolas Batum (21) Cody Zeller (7) Jeremy Lin (3) American Airlines Arena 19,600 0–1 2 April 20 @ Miami L 103–115 Kemba Walker (29) Batum, Jefferson (7) Batum, Walker (3) American Airlines Arena 19,650 0–2 3 April 23 Miami W 96–80 Jeremy Lin (18) Marvin Williams (14) Kemba Walker (7) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,604 1–2 4 April 25 Miami W 89–85 Kemba Walker (34) Spencer Hawes (8) Jefferson, Lin (3) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,156 2–2 5 April 27 @ Miami W 90–88 Marvin Williams (17) Marvin Williams (8) Jeremy Lin (7) American Airlines Arena 19,685 3–2 6 April 29 Miami L 90–97 Kemba Walker (37) Al Jefferson (7) Kemba Walker (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 19,636 3–3 7 May 1 @ Miami L 73–106 Frank Kaminsky (13) Cody Zeller (7) Kemba Walker (6) American Airlines Arena 19,868 3–4
2016 playoff schedule

Standings

Southeast Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y – Miami Heat	48	34	.585	0.0	28–13	20–21	10–6	82
x – Atlanta Hawks	48	34	.585	0.0	27–14	21–20	8–8	82
x – Charlotte Hornets	48	34	.585	0.0	30–11	18–23	8–8	82
Washington Wizards	41	41	.500	7.0	22–19	19–22	10–6	82
Orlando Magic	35	47	.427	13.0	23–18	12–29	4–12	82

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c – Cleveland Cavaliers *	57	25	.695	–	82
2	y – Toronto Raptors *	56	26	.683	1.0	82
3	y – Miami Heat *	48	34	.585	9.0	82
4	x – Atlanta Hawks	48	34	.585	9.0	82
5	x – Boston Celtics	48	34	.585	9.0	82
6	x – Charlotte Hornets	48	34	.585	9.0	82
7	x – Indiana Pacers	45	37	.549	12.0	82
8	x – Detroit Pistons	44	38	.537	13.0	82
9	Chicago Bulls	42	40	.512	15.0	82
10	Washington Wizards	41	41	.500	16.0	82
11	Orlando Magic	35	47	.427	22.0	82
12	Milwaukee Bucks	33	49	.402	24.0	82
13	New York Knicks	32	50	.390	25.0	82
14	Brooklyn Nets	21	61	.256	36.0	82
15	Philadelphia 76ers	10	72	.122	47.0	82

References