The Charlotte Hornets franchise was established in 1998 but soon moved to New Orleans and became the New Orleans Hornets. As the years passed, the team was eventually named the Charlotte Hornets. The franchise had some of the best talent who produced great results for the team. In this article, we will have a look at those incredible players who helped the franchise develop a name in the league.
10. Muggsy Bogues
Bogues joined the Hornets in 1988 and went on to play with them for almost a decade. Although Muggsy was never an All-Star or All-NBA player, many players viewed him as an important part of the Hornets. His height of 5’3’’ didn’t prevent him from having a successful NBA career as a point guard. Bogues averaged 8.8 points and 8.8 assists per game, but he was a fan favorite and a big part of the Hornets’ NBA history.
9. Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones spent only two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, but in a short period with the team, he had his best play in the league. In the 1999 season, Jones made it to the All-Star team and even made the All-NBA team for the only time in his career. Eddie averaged 20.1 points, 4.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds in the 1999–2000 season with the Hornets. He used his stint with the Hornets to rebuild his name value and added some excitement to the franchise as well.
8. Gerald Wallace
Gerald Wallace made a notable impact for the Hornets when they were called the “Charlotte Bobcats” and especially during an unexpected winning season. Wallace’s only All-Star appearance and All-Defensive Team selection came during his prime season with the Bobcats. While playing a total of seven seasons with Charlotte, “Crash” averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, which were the best numbers of his career.
7. Baron Davis
Baron Davis was the third pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1999 draft. He scored nine points in his debut with five rebounds, two assists and two steals in the match against the Orlando Magic. Davis made his first All-Star appearance with the Hornets. He doesn’t get much love compared to his peers of the early 2000s, but he was a relevant high-end point guard.
6. Dell Curry
Dell Curry was a role player for the Charlotte Hornets. His three-point shooting saw him excel in a part of the game that was not common at the time. The biggest achievement of Dell’s career was “the Sixth Man of the Year” award. Although Dell was never a superstar player like his son, Stephen Curry, he was still a great asset for the Hornets. He held the record as Hornet’s leading franchise score until Kemba Walker broke it several decades later.
5. LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball has been seen in the Hornets for a few seasons, but he has made a bigger impact than most players. He became the face of the franchise and achieved successes like his first All-Star appearance and leading the Hornets to multiple play-in games, which are part of his legacy so far. In the future, LaMelo will surely do more great things for the franchise and lead the team to bigger success.
4. Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson was a great player but was underrated because his career declined faster than expected due to injuries. However, when Larry was with the Hornets for five seasons, he displayed great numbers by averaging 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Johnson’s performances made him a vital part of the team. He made his only two All-Star appearances and received his only All-NBA selection with the Hornets.
3. Kemba Walker
Kemba was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2011 NBA draft and showed his dominance across multiple eras by becoming a top star for the franchise. He was loved by fans as the team’s best player and one of the most amazing point guards in the league. He made three All-Star appearances and one All-NBA selection during his tenure with the Hornets. Kemba averaged 19.8 points and 5.5 assists throughout his career with the franchise.
2. Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo spent only three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets after being drafted by them during the 1992 NBA draft. He was undoubtedly the most impactful player in franchise history. Zo averaged 21.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game during his short tenure with the Hornets. Mourning made his first two All-Star appearances for the franchise. It was the contract disagreements that forced a trade, but he went on to become an even better player for the Miami Heat.
1. Glen Rice
Glen Rice joined the Hornets in 1995 and spent five years there. He scored an incredible 23.5 points per game during his three seasons with the franchise and used the three-point shot advantage more than any other player. He made the All-Star team for them every season and even surprisingly, won the 1997 All-Star Game MVP. The only two All-NBA selections in his career came during his tenure with Charlotte, which was the prime time of his career.
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