NBA: All-Time Starting 5 of the Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets made their NBA debut in 1988 and they lasted until 2002 when the team relocated to New Orleans. The team’s history was put on pause for two years until the foundation of the Charlotte Bobcats, the league’s 30th franchise. It was a hard first decade for the Bobcats as they only made the playoffs once.
But once Michael Jordan took over ownership, the Bobcats turned into the Hornets again in 2014 and the team has been on an upswing. Kemba Walker is one of the best players in the NBA today and he has established himself as one of the greatest in the team’s history.
Even though the Hornets do not have the deepest history, they have produced some quality players along the way, as well as several Hall of Famers such as Alonzo Mourning and Robert Parish. Here are the members of the all-time starting five for the Hornets.
Forward – Larry Johnson
Drafted first overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1991, Larry Johnson quickly emerged as one of the most imposing players in the league. Even though he was shorter than most bigs of that era, Johnson used his large frame and beastly athletic qualities to win the Rookie of the Year Award.
Johnson followed it up by making his first All-Star appearance in 1993 when he averaged 22.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists while shooting 52.6 percent from the field. He was an All-Star again in 1995 after an injury-plagued 1994 season. He would get traded after just five years but “Grandmama” made a lasting impact on the franchise.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Anthony Mason
Spending only four seasons in Charlotte, Anthony Mason was a key part of three playoff teams of the Hornets from 1996 to 2000. Mason had his best season in 1997 when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team. He averaged 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.