| Armen Gilliam |
Primary Frontcourt Scorer (1.1) |
38.0 |
High (1.2) |
19.8 |
9.4 |
1.1 |
2.2 |
85.80 |
Interior scoring hub for Charlotte during his brief 1990-91 stint, Gilliam carried a heavy offensive load before the Hornets dealt him to Philadelphia in January. His physical low-post game and rebounding gave Charlotte a dependable half-court option, while contemporary coverage remembered the 39-point, 12-rebound performance that paced Charlotte past Washington in November. Los Angeles Times retrospective on Gilliam |
None |
| Johnny Newman |
Primary Wing Scorer (1.05) |
30.6 |
High (1.2) |
16.9 |
3.1 |
2.3 |
1.4 |
59.72 |
Versatile scoring forward who gave Charlotte a needed perimeter option after arriving from New York. Allan Bristow specifically identified Newman as a player who could help “light a fire” under the Hornets, and his ability to score from the wing made him a major part of the team’s attempt to move beyond expansion-era struggles. UPI report on Charlotte signing Newman |
None |
| Rex Chapman |
Lead Perimeter Creator (1.05) |
30.0 |
High (1.2) |
15.7 |
2.7 |
3.6 |
1.2 |
58.46 |
Explosive perimeter creator whose value went beyond scoring; Chapman supplied ballhandling, transition pressure and aggressive shot-making from the guard spots. His athletic reputation remained strong enough to make him a hometown favorite during the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, where he finished third, while his 3.6 assists show the broader offensive responsibility he carried in Charlotte’s backcourt. Sports Illustrated on Chapman’s career and playing style |
Slam Dunk Contest (3rd, 1991) |
| Muggsy Bogues |
Starting Playmaking Hub (1.05) |
28.4 |
High (1.2) |
7.0 |
2.7 |
8.3 |
1.7 |
49.64 |
Tempo-setting floor general whose greatest impact came from getting Charlotte into its offense and creating openings before defenses were organized. Bogues’ quickness and disruptive hands made his size less of a limitation than it looked on paper; independent reporting repeatedly emphasized how he overcame the physical matchup problems associated with standing 5-foot-3. Seattle Times retrospective on Bogues |
None |
| Mike Gminski |
Veteran Post Facilitator (1.05) |
28.1 |
Medium (1.1) |
11.4 |
7.6 |
1.2 |
0.9 |
48.74 |
Skilled veteran center who stabilized the middle after arriving from Philadelphia in the Armen Gilliam trade. Gminski brought experience, size and a polished offensive game to a young Charlotte roster, although his role was more complementary than franchise-defining. Contemporary and retrospective reporting consistently characterizes him as a highly skilled big man whose career eventually transitioned toward a reserve role. Charlotte Observer profile of Gminski |
None |
| J.R. Reid |
Starting Interior Scorer (1.05) |
30.8 |
Medium (1.1) |
11.3 |
6.3 |
1.1 |
1.7 |
47.12 |
Physical interior scorer who handled a full starting workload at center and power forward while Charlotte continued searching for a long-term frontcourt identity. When the Hornets drafted Reid, coach Dick Harter specifically praised his strength, physicality and ability to play both frontcourt positions, traits that remained central to his NBA role. UPI report on Charlotte drafting Reid |
None |
| Kendall Gill |
Two-Way Slashing Guard (1.05) |
23.7 |
Medium (1.1) |
11.0 |
3.2 |
3.7 |
1.8 |
45.51 |
Athletic two-way guard who was still finding his place behind Charlotte’s established backcourt pieces. The Hornets selected Gill fifth overall hoping his talent could strengthen the perimeter and potentially allow him to handle point-guard duties; his 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals reflected that developing two-way responsibility. UPI draft analysis of Kendall Gill |
All-Rookie First Team (1991); Slam Dunk Contest (8th, 1991) |
| Kenny Gattison |
Interior Rotation Enforcer (1.05) |
21.6 |
Medium (1.1) |
9.0 |
5.3 |
0.6 |
1.6 |
38.12 |
Physical interior rotation big who supplied rebounding, screens and contact-heavy defense without requiring many offensive touches. Gattison’s long Charlotte tenure made him one of the roster’s more dependable frontcourt constants, and his later recollections of playing alongside Dell Curry emphasize how much of his value came through the unglamorous work around the paint. Charlotte Observer retrospective featuring Gattison |
None |
| Dell Curry |
Bench Shooting Specialist (1.0) |
19.9 |
Medium (1.1) |
10.6 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
1.3 |
36.74 |
Perimeter shooting specialist who gave Charlotte spacing and instant offense when inserted into the backcourt. Curry was already known for his long-range shooting at a time when teams used far fewer threes than they do today, and his ability to contribute without dominating possessions made him a natural fit as a reserve scorer. Charlotte Observer profile of Curry’s Hornets career |
None |
| Eric Leckner |
Backup Interior Anchor (1.0) |
18.6 |
Low (1.0) |
5.8 |
5.2 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
24.20 |
Reserve interior anchor who gave Charlotte useful center minutes behind Reid and Gminski. His role was largely built around occupying the paint, rebounding and absorbing physical minutes rather than creating offense; contemporary independent coverage of his brief Hornets stint is limited, so the season-specific record supports a depth-center role more than a larger offensive responsibility. |
None |
| Kelly Tripucka |
Veteran Scoring Reserve (1.0) |
16.7 |
Low (1.0) |
7.0 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
0.6 |
24.00 |
Veteran scoring forward whose Charlotte role had changed sharply from the high-volume offensive centerpiece of the expansion years. By 1990-91 he was coming off the bench, reflecting the franchise’s shift toward younger guards and forwards; independent Hornets retrospectives note that his scoring responsibility had steadily diminished by this stage. Charlotte Observer Hornets history feature |
None |
| Earl Cureton |
Emergency Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) |
17.7 |
Low (1.0) |
1.9 |
4.0 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
13.00 |
Emergency frontcourt reserve brought in during a season when Charlotte needed additional size. Cureton’s NBA return came after time playing outside the league, and his brief nine-game Charlotte appearance was essentially a short-term depth assignment rather than a stable rotation position. |
None |
| Randolph Keys |
Wing Depth Scorer (1.0) |
10.8 |
Low (1.0) |
3.2 |
2.3 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
13.40 |
Wing depth scorer who saw limited opportunities behind Newman and Tripucka. Keys was still a young veteran trying to establish himself after moving through several NBA situations, and Charlotte’s crowded small-forward rotation left him with a relatively narrow role during this season. Independent season-specific reporting is limited. |
None |
| Jeff Sanders |
Short-Term Frontcourt Fill-In (1.0) |
14.3 |
Low (1.0) |
4.3 |
3.0 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
16.40 |
Short-term frontcourt fill-in whose Charlotte opportunity amounted to only three games. He arrived on a 10-day contract during January roster turnover, and the brief stint indicates the Hornets viewed him primarily as temporary depth while reshaping the roster. |
None |
| Scott Haffner |
Reserve Ballhandler (1.0) |
7.1 |
Low (1.0) |
2.4 |
0.6 |
1.3 |
0.5 |
9.60 |
Reserve ballhandler used sparingly behind Bogues and Chapman. Haffner’s Charlotte opportunity came through a pair of short-term contracts before he earned a deal for the remainder of the season, but his seven appearances show that he remained an end-of-rotation option rather than a regular backcourt piece. |
None |
| Dave Hoppen |
Emergency Center Depth (1.0) |
5.9 |
Low (1.0) |
2.3 |
1.6 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
8.60 |
Emergency center depth with only limited minutes before being included in the trade that sent Armen Gilliam to Philadelphia for Mike Gminski. Hoppen’s season was therefore defined more by roster movement and frontcourt competition than by a consistent playing role. Independent coverage of his brief 1990-91 Charlotte stint is limited. |
None |
| Steve Scheffler |
Developmental Center Reserve (1.0) |
5.8 |
Low (1.0) |
1.5 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
6.40 |
Developmental center reserve who spent the season learning the professional game while receiving short stretches of NBA action. His efficient finishing and strong free-throw shooting were useful in limited minutes, but Charlotte’s veteran frontcourt left little room for a larger role. Contemporary independent reporting on Scheffler’s rookie season is limited. |
None |
| Team Totals |
— |
241.5 |
— |
102.8 |
39.4 |
24.6 |
13.0 |
— |
Charlotte’s 1990-91 roster combined veteran scoring, young perimeter talent and a crowded frontcourt, with the midseason Gilliam-Gminski trade changing the interior rotation. |
— |
