The Charlotte Hornets have many colors that embody their distinct identity and history. Fans of the team are represented through the purple and teal color combination. The team’s vivid teal is a perfect reflection of the vibrant energy found in the city of Charlotte and the passion of the fan base. This teal gives a unique flavor to the classic purple and conveys a sense of energy and excitement.

Purple, a traditional color of royalty, demonstrates the team’s dignity and the pride of its fan base. It is a color that speaks to the power of the Hornets, of a team that sets the standard of excellence. Moreover, it portrays the sense of loyalty that is often connected to sports teams and the dedication of their fans.

The black and gray in the team’s palette create a certain level of mystery and also signifies strength and greatness. Together, they display the concept that defenses come out to win and that the determination and resilience of the Charlotte Hornets will never be broken.

The white in the Hornet’s colors portrays the “enthusiasm and joy” that is often associated with sports. It is the spark of light that the team brings to their city, families, and fans. The white also creates a certain level of contrast between the purple and teal, and keeps the colors vibrant and alive.

In addition, the popular pinstripe wordmark in the color spectrum is quite a distinctive feature among NBA teams. It speaks to the team pride found in every Hornets fan and emphasizes the strength and unity found in the fan base and the team.

Charlotte Hornets color codes: RGB, CMYK, Pantone, Hex

The different colors that make up the Charlotte Hornets' identity represents the history and pride of the city and the team. Through their colors, the Hornets bring together the city of Charlotte and even beyond, to share in the excitement of the Hornets’ success. From the purple and teal to the black and gray, and the white and pinstripe, the colors of the Hornets create the stories for all to celebrate.

Teal	Hex color:	#00788c
	RGB:	0 120 140
	CMYK:	100 36 38 7
	Pantone:	PMS 3145 C

Dark Purple	Hex color:	#1d1160
	RGB:	29 17 96
	CMYK:	96 98 38 44
	Pantone:	PMS 275 C

Gray	Hex color:	#a1a1a4
	RGB:	161 161 164
	CMYK:	0 1 0 43
	Pantone:	PMS Cool Gray 8 C

Charlotte Hornets Overview

The Charlotte Hornets Overview are a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have been in their current location since 1978. The team's leading scorer is Charlotte's all-time leader in scoring, Kemba Walker. The Hornets also rank second in most successful games played in a season (altering or winning an MVP award). 

The most successful team in their history, they finished in first place in the NBA's Western Conference twice, losing in the Finals both times. The first time was in 1997, and the second time was in 2016. The Hornets lost in the Finals both times to the Seattle Seahawks.

American basketball team

Charlotte Hornets, an American professional basketball club, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, competes in the National Basketball Association's Eastern Conference (NBA).

Once known as the Bobcats, the team became the NBA's 30th franchise in 2004. Robert L. Johnson, an American media entrepreneur who founded the Bobcats, became the first African American majority owner of a club in one of the United States four major professional sports leagues.

Despite the presence of quality young players like Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor and forward Gerald Wallace, the Bobcats NBA were not an early success, finishing with a losing record and in last or second-to-last place in their division in each of their first five seasons in the NBA.

Michael Jordan, a North Carolina native, became a minority owner and general manager of the club in 2006, and in 2008 Charlotte hired Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown to try to turn around the franchise's woes. Jordan took ownership of the Bobcats in 2010 and resigned as general manager.

Charlotte concluded the 2009-10 season with the franchise's first winning record, giving the team its first playoff berth. The Bobcats' success, however, was fleeting, as Brown departed the club 28 games into the team's losing 2010-11 season.

The squad had an NBA-record low during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season.

With a winning percentage of 106, it has lost all but seven of its 66 games. The Bobcats rebuilt and rapidly recovered from this low point, producing a winning record and making the playoffs in 2013-14.

The Charlotte Hornets were dubbed the Charlotte Hornets record in May 2014, after the name of the NBA club based in the area from 1988 to 2002, before moving to New Orleans and eventually becoming known as the Pelicans. (The name of the squad alludes to the "hornet's nest" of American rebels in Charlotte during the American Revolution.)

In 2015-16, the Hornets returned to the playoffs but failed to move past the first round again. Despite playing in a very weak division, the Hornets failed to make the playoffs in the next five seasons.

Charlotte Hornets Mascot And Cheerleaders

Hugo The Hornet is the team's current mascot, having been kept by the New Orleans Hornets following the departure of the Charlotte Hornets game in 2002 until the organization's rebranding as the Pelicans.

Hugo was unveiled as the Charlotte Hornets' new mascot for the 2014-15 NBA season at halftime of a game between the Charlotte Bobcats and the Utah Jazz on December 21, 2013, shortly after the news that the Bobcats would reclaim the Hornet's identity.

Rufus D. Lynx was the Bobcats' mascot from 2004 until 2014. According to his official bio on the Bobcats' website, he made his debut on November 1, 2003. The name is derived from the scientific name of the bobcat, Lynx rufus. Rufus D. Lynx, together with Coyote, Grizz, Hooper, and Sly the Silver Fox, set a world record for the most "between the legs" basketball dunks during the 2012 NBA All-Star Jam Session.

According to Bleacher Report, Rufus is the NBA's eighth greatest mascot. NBA Jam 2010 features Rufus D. Lynx. Rufus D. Lynx officially retired after the end of the 2013-14 NBA season, and the Hornets prepared a goodbye video for him in May 2014. On June 5, 2014, the redesigned Hugo was presented during a city tour.

The Charlotte Honey Bees are the Hornets' official cheering group. During games, the Honey Bees conduct sideline and center-court dances. They also serve as Hornets brand ambassadors in the community, participating in community service and charity events. The cheerleaders were known as the Lady Cats when the team was known as the Bobcats.

Charlotte Hornets Logos And Uniforms

Charlotte Hornets Logos

The Hornets' initial logo featured a teal and purple anthropomorphic hornet dribbling an orange basketball while wearing white shoes and gloves. The words' Charlotte Hornets' curled around the top and bottom of the emblem in teal. An alternative logo used exclusively for the 1988-89 season featured a huge teal letter 'C' with the word 'Charlotte' curving upwards beneath in black lettering.

A smaller white letter 'H' was highlighted in teal inside the 'C,' with a black-colored hornet clutching a basketball from a bird-eye view in the middle. Until the 1991-92 season, the 'H' component of the emblem remained on the warm-ups and waistline of the jerseys.

From 2004 through 2012, the Bobcats' primary logo was a snarling orange bobcat facing to the right, with the indented term 'Bobcats' above in silver on a blue backdrop and 'Charlotte' (also indented) above it in the same blue hue. In 2007, the colors were changed to a less bright orange and blue while keeping the same overall appearance.

In 2012, the bobcat was grayed, and the blue backdrop was extended to the 'Charlotte' name, which was altered from blue to orange. A Carolina blue edge was also applied around the entire emblem.

The Bobcats debuted a secondary logo in 2007 that featured a snarling bobcat head looking forward with one side tinted orange and the other blue. A silver basketball was inserted behind the right ear, surrounded by an orange-blue-gray circle.

The colors were modified during the 2012 rebranding, with gray and Carolina blue replacing orange on the head and circular outline, respectively, and the basketball becoming orange. From 2007-08 to 2013-14, this emblem would be prominent in the team's marketing and shown on center court.

Charlotte's second Hornets logo depicts a forward-facing teal and purple hornet with the words' Charlotte basketball team on its body. Wings with teal and purple embellishments grow over the head on both sides. The stinger of a hornet is vividly displayed, with a basketball design above it.

The logo is completely outlined in gray. A hornet looking to the side, its teal and purple body arched in a 'C' shape denoting Charlotte, and a modified version of the Hornets' original logo (sans the basketball) as the official mascot logo are among the team's several secondary logos.

Charlotte Hornets Uniforms

Original Hornets

Alexander Julian, a North Carolina native and worldwide designer created the initial Hornets outfits. The team's primary colors were teal and purple, and the clothes included a first for NBA uniforms: pinstripes. While most teams have their name on home jerseys and their home city on away jerseys, the Hornets' outfits had "Charlotte" on both.

The home jerseys were white with teal, green, blue, and purple pinstripes, while the away jerseys were teal with white, green, blue, and purple pinstripes. Beginning in early 1992, the 'Hugo' emblem was prominently displayed on the shorts' beltline.

The Hornets debuted an alternative purple suit in 1994, featuring pinstripes in white, green, blue, and teal. Hugo was also included in the beltline.

The Hornets' jerseys changed somewhat between 1997 and 2002. Hugo was relocated from the beltline to the left leg, and side stripes with pinstripes in purple (away) and teal (home) colors were added. The beltline and piping were done in a teal, purple, and blue tricolor.

Bobcats

The Bobcats' initial home jerseys were white with orange lettering and blue and black trim. The primary away jersey was orange with the words "Charlotte" in white, blue, and black trim. The Bobcats introduced a new alternative away uniform in the 2006 offseason, which debuted during the 2006-07 season.

The alternative jersey is blue, with "Bobcats" written in white and trimmed in black, orange, and white. Racing Day blue alternates (with an arched 'Charlotte,' checkered flag side stripes, and centered numerals) were worn to celebrate Charlotte's NASCAR fandom.

For the 2009-10 season, the Bobcats used revised jerseys that included elements from both Hornets and Bobcats outfits. The white home jerseys had an arched "Bobcats" in blue with an orange and white accent. Road outfits were blue with a white arched "Charlotte" with a blue and orange accent.

Both versions included silver pinstripes, identical to those worn by the Hornets. The pinstripes were also included in the NASCAR outfit. The Bobcats donned their home clothes for NASCAR night in 2011-12, complete with a racing flag patch.

The Bobcats revealed Hardwood Classics outfits honoring the ABA's Carolina Cougars, which they wore for certain games in 2012.

On June 19, 2012, the Bobcats introduced new jerseys, their second and last makeover in five years. They put less emphasis on orange overall. The shortened moniker 'Cats' was in the navy and Carolina blue trim on the white home uniforms, while the numbers were in Carolina blue and navy trim, with navy side stripes.

The navy away outfits had 'Charlotte' written in white with Carolina blue trim, and the numbers had the same trim as the city name, with Carolina blue side stripes. The pinstripes were restricted to the sides of both outfits. The uniforms were very similar to those of the Dallas Mavericks.

The use of Carolina blue was intended to connect owner Michael Jordan's university heritage, while the formal adoption of 'Cats' for marketing purposes matched a popular moniker.

Revived Hornets

On June 19, 2014, the Hornets introduced their new jerseys, which included white home and purple road uniforms with the "Hornets" wordmark across the chest. The squad also debuted an alternative teal jersey with the wordmark "Charlotte" on the breast. The teal uniform will be worn as an alternate uniform for either home or away games and 16-20 times each season.

The Hornets debuted a black-sleeved alternative suit with their "Buzz City" moniker on June 25, 2015. During the 2015-16 NBA season, the club wore the uniform for six games. It was also worn in a few games during the 2016 NBA playoffs.

Nike's Air Jordan brand, authorized by club owner Michael Jordan, has clothed the Hornets for the 2017-18 season and beyond. The white "Association" and teal "Icon" uniforms both include the "Hornets" wordmark on the front and a silhouetted hornet on the waistline. The purple "Statement" uniform is identical to the "Icon" and "Association" uniforms, except it has the wordmark "Charlotte" in front.

Before the 2019-20 season, the Hornets updated their purple "Statement" jerseys. The front of the uniform had the "CHA" acronym in big white letters with teal trim, while the sides were accented with teal "stinger" stripes. The silhouetted Hornets emblem was relocated to the shorts' sides, while the incomplete logo was put on the beltline.

The Hornets' "City" jerseys were small improvements to Adidas' "Buzz City" sleeved uniforms. The 2017-18 edition had black text with white trim on a black background, while the sides had a hornet wing pattern. The 2018-19 edition has teal writing and a new logo evocative of the original Air Jordan "Wings" emblem.

For the 2019-20 season, the "City" uniform ditched the "Buzz City" theme in favor of a cool gray base, purple, teal, and black piping, the "CHA" abbreviation in purple, and white numbers with purple trim. The sides were decorated with a cell design.

For the 2020-21 season, Charlotte's "City" jersey pays homage to the city's history as the first to house a U.S. Branch Mint and the Carolina Gold Rush. The background is mint, with black granite lettering, numerals, and metallic gold trim. Pinstripes are available in gold. It also reinstated the "Buzz City" crest on the front.

The Hornets' "City" suit for the 2021-22 season aesthetically combined aspects from past identities. The cursive "Charlotte" wordmark was inspired by banners exhibited at the franchise's uniform presentation in 1988. The number placement on the left breast harkened to the original Bobcats' outfits.

The purple cells recalled the Charlotte Coliseum's court design, while the teal gradient included pinstripes, evocative of the outfits used from 1988 to 1997. The original "Hugo" logo was put on the left leg, with the script "Hornets" wordmark added on the right. The Hornets put the "EST. 1988" symbol along the jock tag to commemorate the team's first year.

The "Classic" version included a re-creation of the Hornets' classic pinstripe uniforms in the current Nike style. The real version was utilized in the 2017-18 season, followed by a white version in 2018-19, complete with an alternative floor commemorating NBA basketball's 30th anniversary in Charlotte.

The Hornets donned purple versions of the pinstriped uniforms in 2019-20 to mark the 25th anniversary of the uniform's debut.

The Hornets introduced new uniforms on August 31, 2020, with double pinstripe jerseys that pay homage to the jerseys worn from 1997 to 2002. The Hornets' regular jerseys include pinstripes for the first time since they were known as the Bobcats from 2009 to 2012.

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Roster

NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE	SALARY
LaMelo Ball 1	PG	20	6' 7"	180 lbs	--	$8,623,920
James Bouknight 5	SG	21	6' 4"	190 lbs	Connecticut	$4,362,240
Miles Bridges 0	SF	24	6' 7"	225 lbs	Michigan State	--
Montrezl Harrell 8	C	28	6' 7"	240 lbs	Louisville	--
Gordon Hayward 20	SF	32	6' 7"	225 lbs	Butler	$30,075,000
Kai Jones 23	PF	21	6' 10"	221 lbs	Texas	$2,909,160
Arnoldas Kulboka 98	PF	24	6' 10"	209 lbs	--	--
Scottie Lewis 16	SG	22	6' 5"	185 lbs	Florida	--
Cody Martin 11	SF	26	6' 6"	205 lbs	Nevada	$7,000,000
Jalen McDaniels 6	PF	24	6' 9"	205 lbs	San Diego State	$1,930,681
Bryce McGowens	G	19	6' 7"	179 lbs	Nebraska	--
Kelly Oubre Jr. 12	SG	26	6' 6"	203 lbs	Kansas	$12,600,000
Mason Plumlee 24	C	32	6' 11"	254 lbs	Duke	$9,080,417
Nick Richards 14	C	24	7' 0"	245 lbs	Kentucky	$1,782,621
Terry Rozier 3	SG	28	6' 1"	190 lbs	Louisville	$21,486,283
Isaiah Thomas 4	G	33	5' 9"	185 lbs	Washington	--
JT Thor 21	PF	19	6' 9"	203 lbs	Auburn	$1,563,518
P.J. Washington 25	PF	23	6' 7"	230 lbs	Kentucky	$5,808,435
Mark Williams	C	20	7' 0"	242 lbs	Duke	$3,722,040

Charlotte Hornets Stats 2021-22

Player Stats - All Splits

NAME	GP	GS	MIN	PTS	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	AST/TO	PER
Miles Bridges SF	80	80	35.5	20.2	1.1	5.9	7.0	3.8	0.9	0.8	1.9	2.4	2.0	17.97
LaMelo Ball PG	75	75	32.3	20.1	1.4	5.2	6.7	7.6	1.6	0.4	3.3	3.2	2.3	19.76
Terry Rozier SG	73	73	33.7	19.3	0.8	3.5	4.3	4.5	1.3	0.3	1.3	1.6	3.4	17.62
Gordon Hayward SF	49	48	31.9	15.9	0.8	3.8	4.6	3.6	1.0	0.4	1.7	1.7	2.2	15.11
Kelly Oubre Jr. SG	76	13	26.3	15.0	1.0	2.9	4.0	1.1	1.0	0.4	0.9	2.5	1.3	15.01
Montrezl Harrell C *	25	0	20.9	11.4	2.1	2.8	4.9	2.0	0.4	0.5	0.9	2.0	2.2	21.83
P.J. Washington PF	65	28	27.2	10.3	1.3	3.9	5.2	2.3	0.9	0.9	1.3	2.3	1.8	13.60
Isaiah Thomas G *	17	0	12.9	8.3	0.2	1.1	1.2	1.4	0.4	0.2	0.6	1.3	2.4	16.12
Cody Martin SF	71	11	26.3	7.7	1.2	2.9	4.0	2.5	1.2	0.5	0.9	1.6	2.9	12.73
Mason Plumlee C	73	73	24.6	6.5	2.4	5.3	7.7	3.1	0.8	0.7	1.4	3.1	2.3	14.72
Jalen McDaniels PF	55	2	16.3	6.2	0.7	2.4	3.1	1.1	0.5	0.4	0.7	1.7	1.6	12.78
James Bouknight SG	31	0	9.8	4.6	0.7	1.0	1.7	0.8	0.2	0.0	0.5	0.9	1.7	10.14
Ish Smith PG *	37	1	13.8	4.5	0.3	1.2	1.5	2.6	0.5	0.3	1.0	0.9	2.7	9.65
Nick Richards C	50	5	7.3	3.0	0.7	1.0	1.7	0.3	0.2	0.4	0.5	1.0	0.5	15.98
JT Thor PF	33	0	7.9	2.0	0.3	1.0	1.3	0.6	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.8	1.9	9.73
Vernon Carey Jr. C *	4	1	4.3	2.0	0.8	0.5	1.3	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.3	0.3	0.0	17.22
Kai Jones PF	21	0	3.0	1.0	0.1	0.4	0.5	0.2	0.0	0.1	0.3	0.4	0.7	9.26
Scottie Lewis SG	2	0	3.5	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	INF	14.61
Arnoldas Kulboka PF	2	0	2.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.0	-10.69
Total	82			115.3	10.8	33.7	44.6	28.1	8.6	4.9	12.7	19.9	2.2

Shooting Stats - All Splits

NAME	FGM	FGA	FG%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	2PM	2PA	2P%	SC-EFF	SH-EFF
Miles Bridges SF	7.5	15.2	49.1	1.9	5.8	33.1	3.3	4.2	80.2	5.5	9.4	59.0	1.329	0.55
LaMelo Ball PG	7.2	16.7	42.9	2.9	7.5	38.9	2.8	3.2	87.2	4.2	9.2	46.2	1.203	0.52
Terry Rozier SG	7.1	16.0	44.4	3.0	8.1	37.4	2.1	2.4	85.2	4.1	7.9	51.6	1.207	0.54
Gordon Hayward SF	5.8	12.6	45.9	1.8	4.5	39.1	2.6	3.0	84.6	4.0	8.1	49.6	1.261	0.53
Kelly Oubre Jr. SG	5.4	12.3	44.0	2.5	7.3	34.5	1.7	2.5	66.7	2.9	5.0	57.8	1.220	0.54
Montrezl Harrell C *	4.4	6.9	64.5	0.0	0.1	0.0	2.5	3.6	69.2	4.4	6.8	65.3	1.657	0.65
P.J. Washington PF	3.8	8.2	47.0	1.7	4.6	36.5	0.9	1.2	71.6	2.2	3.6	60.6	1.256	0.57
Isaiah Thomas G *	3.1	7.1	43.3	1.4	3.4	39.7	0.8	0.9	93.3	1.7	3.6	46.8	1.175	0.53
Cody Martin SF	2.9	6.0	48.2	0.9	2.2	38.4	1.1	1.5	70.1	2.0	3.7	54.2	1.286	0.55
Mason Plumlee C	2.8	4.4	64.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.9	2.3	39.2	2.8	4.4	64.5	1.491	0.64
Jalen McDaniels PF	2.2	4.6	48.4	0.7	2.0	38.0	1.0	1.3	73.6	1.5	2.7	56.2	1.339	0.56
James Bouknight SG	1.6	4.5	34.8	0.5	1.6	34.7	0.9	1.0	87.1	1.0	3.0	34.8	1.007	0.41
Ish Smith PG *	2.0	5.0	39.5	0.3	0.7	40.0	0.3	0.5	63.2	1.7	4.3	39.4	908	0.42
Nick Richards C	1.2	1.8	66.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	0.9	69.8	1.2	1.8	66.7	1.667	0.67
JT Thor PF	0.7	1.7	43.6	0.2	0.8	25.9	0.4	0.6	60.0	0.5	0.8	60.7	1.218	0.50
Vernon Carey Jr. C *	0.8	1.5	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.8	66.7	0.8	1.5	50.0	1.333	0.50
Kai Jones PF	0.4	0.7	64.3	0.0	0.1	50.0	0.1	0.4	37.5	0.4	0.6	66.7	1.571	0.68
Scottie Lewis SG	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	1.0	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0	0.00
Arnoldas Kulboka PF	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0	0.00
Total	42.8	91.4	46.8	13.9	38.2	36.5	15.8	21.4	74.0	28.8	53.3	54.2	1.261	0.54

FAQs

How good are the Charlotte Hornets?

Surprisingly, the Hornets lead the NBA in points per game, are third in assists per game, and fourth in steals per game. They are a good squad, despite their youth. Their two standout players are two of the team's youngest players.

What happened to the Charlotte Hornets?

After fourteen seasons under its ownership, the club ceased operations in 2002, when Shinn relocated the basketball organization under his control to a new franchise in New Orleans. Robert L. Johnson later purchased, resurrected, and renamed the Charlotte team the Bobcats.

What percentage of the Hornets does MJ own?

According to Forbes' Mike Ozanian, Jordan recently boosted his ownership position in the Charlotte Hornets score from 80 percent to 89.5 percent, putting him beyond the billion-dollar mark.

Why did Hornets change to Bobcats?

Given that Charlotte already had a club named after a cat, the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League, designer Chris Weiller made sure to develop a distinct logo from the Panthers logo. It's also possible that Johnson picked the moniker "Bobcats" as a play on his name.

Conclusion

After an exciting first season back in the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets have much to look forward to in the coming years. With a strong core of young players and a passionate fan base, the future is bright for the Hornets. Thanks for reading this article and supporting the team!