The 2001–02 NBA season was the fourteenth and final season for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Hornets acquired George Lynch and Robert Traylor from the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade, and signed free agent Stacey Augmon. Despite Jamal Mashburn only playing just 40 games due to injury, the Hornets finished the season second in the Central Division with a 44–38 record, and qualified for their third straight playoff appearance. The Hornets finished twenty-ninth (last) in attendance for the season, a stark contrast to their earlier years in Charlotte. Baron Davis was selected to play in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic 3–1 in the first round of the playoffs, but lost 4–1 in the semifinals to the New Jersey Nets.

Following the season, the Hornets relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, and became the New Orleans Hornets. The city of Charlotte would return to the NBA two seasons later with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who began play in the 2004–05 season. That franchise changed its name to the Hornets in 2014 after the original franchise renamed itself the Pelicans, and also reclaimed the original Hornets' history from 1988 to 2002. As a result, the Hornets are now reckoned as having suspended operations after this season before returning as the Bobcats in 2004.

(4) Charlotte Hornets vs. (5) Orlando Magic Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Hornets and Magic.

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