1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season was Charlotte's ninth season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Hornets acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks and Vlade Divac from the Los Angeles Lakers. Under new head coach Dave Cowens, the new-look Hornets played better than expected: Divac and Matt Geiger provided the best center combo in the league, Mason averaged a double-double and earned all-NBA third team honors, and Glen Rice had the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring with a career high of 26.8 points per game, and earning all-NBA second team honors. Rice also set several scoring records in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, and was selected the game's MVP. At midseason, the team acquired Ricky Pierce from the Denver Nuggets

1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season

The 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season was Charlotte's ninth season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Hornets acquired Anthony Mason from the New York Knicks and Vlade Divac from the Los Angeles Lakers. Under new head coach Dave Cowens, the new-look Hornets played better than expected: Divac and Matt Geiger provided the best center combo in the league, Mason averaged a double-double and earned all-NBA third team honors, and Glen Rice had the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring with a career high of 26.8 points per game, and earning all-NBA second team honors. Rice also set several scoring records in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, and was selected the game's MVP. At midseason, the team acquired Ricky Pierce from the Denver Nuggets