2005–06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets season

2005–06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets season
Chris Paul's rookie season
Head coach	Byron Scott
Arena	New Orleans Arena Ford Center
Results
Record	38–44 (.463)
Place	Division: 4th (Southwest) Conference: TBD (Western)
Playoff finish	DNQ
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Cox Sports Television, The Cox Channel
Radio	WTIX, KTOK

The 2005-06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets season season was the team's 4th season in the NBA. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 18-64 record from the previous season (worst in the Western Conference that year). They finished the season with a 38-44 record, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Before the commencement of training camp, the City of New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina.^[1] With the New Orleans Arena partly damaged and the city's infrastructure in need of repair the Hornets would sign a deal to play most of their games in Oklahoma City, becoming the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for the season. In Oklahoma City, the Hornets would enjoy sell out crowds at the Ford Center.^[1]

The addition of draft pick Chris Paul resulted in the team competing for a playoff spot. In January and February, the club played winning basketball despite losing Chris Andersen to a two-year suspension for illegal drugs. Paul showed the poise and play making skills of a veteran finishing second in steals and seventh in assists as he posted a terrific 3.34 assist to turnover ratio, while leading all rookies with 16.1 ppg.^[1]

On March 8 the Hornets returned to New Orleans with a near sell out crowd on hand to watch the Hornets lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 113-107.^[1] In March, the Hornets went into a tail spin winning just 3 of 14 games. The Hornets who played 6 of their last 12 home games in New Orleans would go on to finish in 4th place in their division. Chris Paul was named Rookie of the Year.^[2]

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Chris Paul[3]	PG	United States	Wake Forest
2	33	Brandon Bass		United States	Louisiana State

Roster

New Orleans Hornets roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From F/C 33 Bass, Brandon 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) LSU F/C 42 Brown, P. J. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Louisiana Tech G/F 45 Butler, Rasual 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) La Salle G 5 Claxton, Speedy 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 166 lb (75 kg) Hofstra F 21 Fizer, Marcus 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 262 lb (119 kg) Iowa State F/C 44 Jackson, Marc 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) Temple F 43 Johnson, Linton 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Tulane G 6 Macijauskas, Arvydas 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Lithuania G/F 24 Mason, Desmond 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 224 lb (102 kg) Oklahoma State G 25 Norris, Moochie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) West Florida G 3 Paul, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Wake Forest G/F 23 Smith, J. R. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) St. Benedict's Prep HS (NJ) G/F 1 Snyder, Kirk 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Nevada F 30 West, David 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Xavier F/C 34 Williams, Aaron 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Xavier	Head coach Byron Scott (Arizona State) Assistant coach(es) Jim Cleamons (Ohio State) Kenny Gattison (Old Dominion) David Miller (Springfield (MA)) Darrell Walker (Arkansas) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Standings

Southwest Division

Team	W	L	PCT.	GB
San Antonio Spurs-z (1)	63	19	.768	-
Dallas Mavericks-x (4)	60	22	.732	3
Memphis Grizzlies-x (5)	49	33	.598	14
NO/OKC Hornets	38	44	.463	25
Houston Rockets	34	48	.415	29

^[4]

Game log

2005–06 Game Log
November (7–7) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record Streak 1 Nov 1 Sacramento Kings 93–67 Ford Center 1–0 Won 1 2 Nov 2 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 87–109 Quicken Loans Arena 1–1 Lost 1 3 Nov 5 @ Houston Rockets 91–84 Toyota Center 2–1 Won 1 4 Nov 9 Orlando Magic 83–88 Ford Center 2–2 Lost 1 5 Nov 12 Dallas Mavericks 103–109 Ford Center 2–3 Lost 2 6 Nov 15 @ Miami Heat 102–109 (OT) AmericanAirlines Arena 2–4 Lost 3 7 Nov 16 Denver Nuggets 81–91 Ford Center 2–5 Lost 4 8 Nov 18 Atlanta Hawks 95–92 Ford Center 3–5 Won 1 9 Nov 19 @ Orlando Magic 98–95 Amway Arena 4–5 Won 2 10 Nov 21 @ Philadelphia 76ers 91–103 Wachovia Center 4–6 Lost 1 11 Nov 23 Minnesota Timberwolves 84–80 Ford Center 5–6 Won 1 12 Nov 26 @ Seattle SuperSonics 105–99 KeyArena 6–6 Won 2 13 Nov 28 @ Golden State Warriors 83–99 Oracle Arena 6–7 Lost 1 14 Nov 30 @ Denver Nuggets 102–95 Pepsi Center 7–7 Won 1
December (5–10) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record Streak 15 Dec 2 Philadelphia 76ers 88–86 Ford Center 8–7 Won 2 16 Dec 3 Dallas Mavericks 88–97 American Airlines Center 8–8 Lost 1 17 Dec 6 @ Memphis Grizzlies 73–89 FedExForum 8–9 Lost 2 18 Dec 7 Boston Celtics 87–101 Ford Center 8–10 Lost 3 19 Dec 9 @ Portland Trail Blazers 95–98 (OT) Rose Garden 8–11 Lost 4 20 Dec 11 @ Sacramento Kings 100–110 ARCO Arena 8–12 Lost 5 21 Dec 12 @ Phoenix Suns 91–87 US Airways Center 9–12 Won 1 22 Dec 14 @ Los Angeles Clippers 102–89 Ford Center 10–12 Won 2 23 Dec 16 Phoenix Suns 88–101 Pete Maravich Assembly Center 10–13 Lost 1 24 Dec 18 San Antonio Spurs 89–76 Ford Center 11–13 Won 1 25 Dec 21 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 69–88 Target Center 11–14 Lost 1 26 Dec 23 @ Milwaukee Bucks 94–101 Bradley Center 11–15 Lost 2 27 Dec 28 Houston Rockets 92–90 Ford Center 12–15 Won 1 28 Dec 29 @ San Antonio Spurs 84–111 AT&T Center 12–16 Lost 1 29 Dec 31 Dallas Mavericks 90–95 Ford Center 12–17 Lost 2
January (10–5) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record Streak 30 Jan 2 Charlotte Bobcats 103–86 Ford Center 13–17 Won 1 31 Jan 4 Miami Heat 107–92 Ford Center 14–17 Won 2 32 Jan 6 Portland Trail Blazers 90–80 Ford Center 15–17 Won 3 33 Jan 7 @ Atlanta Hawks 93–101 Philips Arena 15–18 Lost 1 34 Jan 10 Detroit Pistons 86–96 Ford Center 15–19 Lost 2 35 Jan 13 Sacramento Kings 90–76 Lloyd Noble Center 16–19 Won 1 36 Jan 14 @ Houston Rockets 86–80 Toyota Center 17–19 Won 2 37 Jan 16 @ Charlotte Bobcats 107–92 Charlotte Bobcats Arena 18–19 Won 3 38 Jan 18 Memphis Grizzlies 87–79 Ford Center 19–19 Won 4 39 Jan 20 @ Washington Wizards 99–110 Verizon Center 19–20 Lost 1 40 Jan 21 @ New York Knicks 98–109 Madison Square Garden 20–20 Won 1 41 Jan 23 @ Boston Celtics 78–91 TD Banknorth Garden 20–21 Lost 1 42 Jan 23 San Antonio Spurs 68–84 Ford Center 20–22 Lost 2 43 Jan 28 @ Memphis Grizzlies 95–86 FedExForum 21–22 Won 1 44 Jan 30 Milwaukee Bucks 94–93 Ford Center 22–22 Won 2
February (9–4) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record Streak 45 Feb 1 Chicago Bulls 100–95 Ford Center 23–22 Won 3 46 Feb 4 Los Angeles Lakers 106–90 Ford Center 24–22 Won 4 47 Feb 6 @ New Jersey Nets 91–99 Continental Airlines Arena 24–23 Lost 1 48 Feb 8 Seattle SuperSonics 109–102 Ford Center 25–23 Won 1 49 Feb 10 New York Knicks 111–100 Ford Center 26–23 Won 2 50 Feb 11 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 100–94 Target Center 27–23 Won 3 51 Feb 13 Washington Wizards 97–96 Ford Center 28–23 Won 4 52 Feb 15 Portland Trail Blazers 102–86 Ford Center 29–23 Won 5 53 Feb 21 @ Indiana Pacers 75–97 Conseco Fieldhouse 29–24 Lost 1 54 Feb 22 Utah Jazz 76–82 Ford Center 29–25 Lost 2 55 Feb 25 @ Utah Jazz 100–95 Delta Center 30–25 Won 1 56 Feb 26 @ Portland Trail Blazers 88–75 Rose Garden 31–25 Won 2 57 Feb 28 @ Seattle SuperSonics 104–114 KeyArena 31–26 Lost 1
March (3–11) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record Streak 58 Mar 1 @ Los Angeles Clippers 67–89 Staples Center 31–27 Lost 2 59 Mar 6 Phoenix Suns 88–101 Ford Center 31–28 Lost 3 60 Mar 8 Los Angeles Lakers 107–113 New Orleans Arena 31–29 Lost 4 61 Mar 10 Indiana Pacers 90–92 Ford Center 31–30 Lost 5 62 Mar 12 New Jersey Nets 84–95 Ford Center 31–31 Lost 6 63 Mar 14 @ San Antonio Spurs 81–96 AT&T Center 31–32 Lost 7 64 Mar 18 Denver Nugets 94–109 New Orleans Arena 31–33 Lost 8 65 Mar 21 Los Angeles Clippers 120–108 New Orleans Arena 32–33 Won 1 66 Mar 23 Houston Rockets 92–93 Ford Center 32–34 Lost 1 67 Mar 24 @ Chicago Bulls 82–96 United Center 32–35 Lost 2 68 Mar 26 @ Los Angeles Lakers 94–105 Staples Center 32–36 Lost 3 69 Mar 27 @ Utah Jazz 80–104 Delta Center 32–37 Lost 4 70 Mar 29 @ Golden State Warriors 86–85 Oracle Arena 33–37 Won 1 71 Mar 31 Memphis Grizzlies 107–102 Ford Center 34–37 Won 2
April (4–7) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record Streak 72 Apr 2 @ Toronto Raptors 120–113 (2OT) Air Canada Centre 35–37 Won 3 73 Apr 4 @ Detroit Pistons 93–101 The Palace of Auburn Hills 35–38 Lost 1 74 Apr 5 Golden State Warriors 114–109 (OT) Ford Center 36–38 Won 1 75 Apr 7 Toronto Raptors 95–89 Ford Center 37–38 Won 2 76 Apr 8 @ Dallas Mavericks 77–101 American Airlines Center 37–39 Lost 1 77 Apr 10 Cleveland Cavaliers 101–103 Ford Center 37–40 Lost 2 78 Apr 12 Seattle SuperSonics 104–99 Ford Center 38–40 Won 1 79 Apr 14 Utah Jazz 104–105 Ford Center 38–41 Lost 1 80 Apr 16 @ Sacramento Kings 79–96 ARCO Arena 38–42 Lost 2 81 Apr 17 @ Phoenix Suns 78–115 US Airways Center 38–43 Lost 3 82 Apr 19 @ Los Angeles 95–115 Staples Center 38–44 Lost 4
2005–06 Schedule

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Chris Andersen
Brandon Bass
P.J. Brown
Rasual Butler
Speedy Claxton
Marcus Fizer
Marc Jackson
Linton Johnson
Maciej Lampe
Arvydas Macijauskas
Desmond Mason
Bostjan Nachbar
Moochie Norris
Chris Paul
J.R. Smith
Kirk Snyder
Jackson Vroman
David West
Aaron Williams

Awards and records

Awards

• Chris Paul, NBA Rookie of the Year Award ^[5]
• Chris Paul, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Free Agents

Additions Player Signed Former team

Subtractions Player Left New team

See also

• 2005-06 NBA season

References

1. New Orleans Hornets (2002-Present)
2. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets on Basketball Reference
3. NBA.com: Draft 2005
4. 2005-06 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
5. NBA.com Hornets’ Paul Named the 2005-06 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year