Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – JANUARY 11: Baron Davis #1 of the New Orleans Hornets looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on January 11, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – JANUARY 11: Baron Davis #1 of the New Orleans Hornets looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on January 11, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Hornets (2004-05, 18-64, -6.30 SRS)

We’re using the NBA’s official franchise distinctions for this list so the New Orleans Pelicans are technically the New Orleans Hornets beginning in 2002-03 leading to the current day Pelicans.

Our worst iteration for this franchise is pretty easy: 2004-05, a year that saw the New Orleans Hornets win only 18 games after consecutive 40+ win seasons and two straight playoffs as the newly-christened New Orleans Hornets.

It seemed all but destiny for the bottom to fall out of the franchise after Paul Silas, the Hornets first coach in New Orleans was fired after a 47-35 season. His replacement was former Chicago Bulls head coach Tim Floyd. The Iowa State product got New Orleans back into the playoffs but the regression of the team (41-41) got him sent packing as well.

In their place was former Los Angeles Lakers guard Byron Scott. The first-year head coach had a tough assignment on his hands as New Orleans, who had played in the Eastern Conference for the first two years in New Orleans were moved to the Southwest Division in the Western Conference. At the time, the Southwest Division featured four playoff teams and much stiffer competition than the Hornets had faced early in their tenure.

As you can predict, things didn’t go well. Hornets veterans Baron Davis, Jamaal Magloire and Jamal Mashburn had struggled with injuries throughout the year and the team did not adjust well to the West losing their first eight games.

Things spiraled out of control and by the All-Star break, New Orleans was a pathetic 11-42. Most embarrassingly the Hornets lost a one-point overtime game to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. That had to hurt.

Sensing this season and core group of players were toast, New Orleans shipped Davis and Mashburn out of town and began their rebuilding process. The year was particularly disappointing for the Hornets as they finished dead last in attendance just three years into their stay in New Orleans.

All’s well that ends well. The franchise-worst 18-64 mark allowed them to be in a position to draft future Hall of Famer Chris Paul in the following year’s NBA Draft.

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