The 2004–05 NBA season was the first season for the Charlotte Bobcats in the National Basketball Association . This season marked the return of NBA basketball to Charlotte after a two-year hiatus.[ 1] The original Hornets had moved to New Orleans after the 2001–02 season to become the New Orleans Hornets , now the New Orleans Pelicans .[ 2] The Bobcats had the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft , which they used to select Emeka Okafor out of the University of Connecticut . The team hired Bernie Bickerstaff as head coach during the offseason, and added veteran players like Gerald Wallace , Primož Brezec , Brevin Knight , Jason Hart , Jason Kapono , Melvin Ely and Steve Smith to their roster. The Bobcats played their first game at the Charlotte Coliseum on November 4, which was a 103–96 loss to the Washington Wizards . They would win their first game defeating the Orlando Magic 111–100 at home on November 6. However, the expansion team struggled losing ten straight games in January and March, finishing fourth in the Southeast Division with an 18–64 record. Okafor averaged 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game and was named Rookie of The Year, and selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
At the time, this was reckoned as the inaugural season of the Bobcats. However, after the 2013–14 season, the Bobcats reclaimed the Hornets name and pre-2002 history after the original Hornets team changed its name to the Pelicans.[ 3] As a result, this is now considered the 15th season of the Hornets/Bobcats franchise, the team having returned after suspending operations from 2002 to 2004.
For the season, the newly expansion team added new logo and new uniforms, added dark navy blue, grey and orange to their color scheme, added side panels to their jerseys and shorts, they remained in used until 2008 .
2004–05 Charlotte Bobcats roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
SG
12
Alexander, Cory
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1973-06-22
Virginia
PF
35
Allen, Malik
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
1978-06-27
Villanova
SG
10
Bogans, Keith
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1980-05-12
Kentucky
C
7
Brezec, Primož
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
252 lb (114 kg)
1979-10-02
Slovenia
SG
13
Carroll, Matt
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
1980-08-28
Notre Dame
PF
2
Ely, Melvin
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1978-05-02
Fresno State
PG
1
Hart, Jason
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1978-04-29
Syracuse
SF
24
Kapono, Jason
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1981-02-04
UCLA
PG
22
Knight, Brevin
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
173 lb (78 kg)
1975-11-08
Stanford
F/C
50
Okafor, Emeka
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
252 lb (114 kg)
1982-09-28
Connecticut
SG
4
Rush, Kareem
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1980-10-30
Missouri
SG
32
Slay, Tamar
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1980-04-02
Marshall
SF
3
Wallace, Gerald
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1982-07-23
Alabama
F/C
55
White, Jahidi
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
290 lb (132 kg)
1976-02-19
Georgetown
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 2, 2005
Record vs. opponents
edit
2004-05 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NOH
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
—
1–3
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–3
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–2
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–2
0–2
0–4
Boston
3–1
—
4–0
2–2
1–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
3–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
3–1
3–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–0
3–1
Charlotte
3–1
0–4
—
0–4
0–4
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
2–0
0–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–1
0–4
Chicago
4–0
2–2
4–0
—
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–2
2–0
0–4
1–1
4–0
3–0
2–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
2–0
1–2
Cleveland
4–0
2–1
4–0
2–2
—
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–3
3–1
0–3
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–0
1–2
Dallas
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
—
2–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–2
2–2
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
4–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–0
3–0
2–0
Denver
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–2
—
1–1
2–2
1–2
2–0
2–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
3–1
1–2
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
Detroit
3–1
3–1
1–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
—
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–1
2–2
1–1
2–1
2–0
3–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
Golden State
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
—
1–2
1–1
0–4
1–3
1–3
0–2
2–0
1–2
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
2–2
1–1
2–1
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–1
0–2
2–1
—
1–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Indiana
3–0
2–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
—
0–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–1
2–0
2–2
L.A. Clippers
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–1
1–2
0–2
4–0
0–3
2–0
—
2–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–2
0–4
0–4
2–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
L.A. Lakers
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
—
0–3
0–2
2–0
2–1
1–1
3–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
2–1
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–3
0–2
Memphis
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–4
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
3–0
—
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
0–3
3–1
0–3
2–0
3–0
0–2
Miami
4–0
2–1
3–1
3–1
3–0
0–2
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
—
4–0
1–1
3–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
Milwaukee
2–1
1–3
4–0
2–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
—
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–1
2–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–3
Minnesota
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–1
2–1
0–2
3–1
1–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
—
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
4–0
3–1
1–2
1–3
0–2
3–1
1–1
New Jersey
3–0
3–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–2
2–0
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–3
1–2
0–2
—
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–0
1–3
New Orleans
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–1
1–3
0–3
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
—
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–1
1–2
0–4
0–3
0–2
2–2
1–1
New York
3–1
1–3
3–1
0–4
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
—
1–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–0
2–1
Orlando
3–1
0–3
1–3
0–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–1
—
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
Philadelphia
3–1
3–1
3–0
1–2
3–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
2–2
4–0
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–3
2–2
—
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–1
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–1
4–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
—
3–0
2–2
1–2
2–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
Portland
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–3
—
1–3
1–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–2
Sacramento
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
4–0
3–1
3–0
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
—
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–1
2–0
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
3–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–1
2–1
3–1
—
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
Seattle
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
2–0
1–2
3–1
3–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
3–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
—
2–0
3–1
0–2
Toronto
2–1
1–3
2–1
0–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
—
2–0
1–3
Utah
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–3
2–2
1–1
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
—
0–2
Washington
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–1
2–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–4
3–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–2
2–2
1–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
—
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Jason Kapono
SF
81
14
1,491
164
61
40
6
688
18.4
2.0
.8
.5
.1
8.5
Melvin Ely
PF
79
17
1,649
326
76
32
69
576
20.9
4.1
1.0
.4
.9
7.3
Keith Bogans
SG
74
42
1,791
226
135
68
8
714
24.2
3.1
1.8
.9
.1
9.6
Jason Hart
PG
74
27
1,887
203
367
99
14
706
25.5
2.7
5.0
1.3
.2
9.5
Emeka Okafor
PF
73
73
2,600
795
64
62
125
1,105
35.6
10.9
.9
.8
1.7
15.1
Primož Brezec
C
72
72
2,276
531
86
33
55
938
31.6
7.4
1.2
.5
.8
13.0
Gerald Wallace
SF
70
68
2,147
386
137
117
91
780
30.7
5.5
2.0
1.7
1.3
11.1
Brevin Knight
PG
66
61
1,944
170
591
131
5
666
29.5
2.6
9.0
2.0
.1
10.1
Steve Smith †
SG
37
1
636
49
57
12
7
291
17.2
1.3
1.5
.3
.2
7.9
Kareem Rush †
SG
34
22
877
79
65
18
6
390
25.8
2.3
1.9
.5
.2
11.5
Theron Smith
SF
33
5
510
116
28
6
4
105
15.5
3.5
.8
.2
.1
3.2
Bernard Robinson
SG
31
1
328
48
30
11
4
93
10.6
1.5
1.0
.4
.1
3.0
Matt Carroll
SG
25
0
430
60
17
17
2
224
17.2
2.4
.7
.7
.1
9.0
Jamal Sampson
PF
23
0
329
122
8
4
17
79
14.3
5.3
.3
.2
.7
3.4
Malik Allen †
PF
22
1
271
47
7
5
11
111
12.3
2.1
.3
.2
.5
5.0
Jahidi White
C
17
0
135
34
1
2
12
42
7.9
2.0
.1
.1
.7
2.5
Cory Alexander
SG
16
1
201
29
37
9
1
49
12.6
1.8
2.3
.6
.1
3.1
Eddie House †
SG
13
5
300
19
24
24
3
144
23.1
1.5
1.8
1.8
.2
11.1
Tamar Slay
SG
8
0
78
14
3
5
0
28
9.8
1.8
.4
.6
.0
3.5
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Bobcats only.