I’ve already detailed the confusing history of our next franchise. They vanished into thin air in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, only to be reincarnated as the woeful Bobcats, before getting back their beloved team name 10 years later. Many of the best players in franchise history – including Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice, Anthony Mason (RIP), Baron Davis, and Al Jefferson – were ineligible for inclusion on their all-time team, due to not playing enough seasons with the franchise. And while we could throw them a bone and include these players anyway, they’ve been in existence for a total of 25 years, which should be enough to comply with the rules (as previous teams have shown). The All-Time Charlotte Hornets team would have a tough time competing in the 2015-16 NBA season, much less in this tournament of legends, where they’ll serve as road kill for their first-round opponent.
The starting point guard, Muggsy Bogues, is best known as the shortest player in NBA history (5’3”), but he was more than a novelty act; he was a good play maker who had a 4.75:1 career assist-to-turnover ratio. He wasn’t a good outside shooter, however, and will struggle to guard many of the larger point guards in this tournament. Dell Curry, the starting shooting guard, is best known for the work of his son, but he was an excellent shooter in Charlotte who won a Sixth Man of the Year award. There are plenty of guard options off the bench, though none of them are overly impressive. Kemba Walker is a high usage, low efficiency point guard. Raymond Felton was the product of the Bobcats’ seemingly endless bad draft luck. In 2005, they won only 18 games, and tied for the second worst record in the league, but they received the fifth pick in the draft, and watched Deron Williams and Chris Paul get drafted right before they selected the mediocre Felton. David Wesley and Kendall Gill were both solid off guards; Wesley was a more diminutive (6’0”) player who could also play at the point, while Gill had good size for his position (6’5”) and could also play at small forward. Gerald Henderson has shown flashes on the recent Charlotte teams, but is another average player who doesn’t move the needle for this squad.
The starting forwards are the only two players on the team who have made an all-star game in Charlotte. Gerald Wallace, AKA Crash, was an excellent all-around player who competed hard on both ends of the court. Larry Johnson was the first pick in the 1991 draft, and many envisioned him as the second coming of Charles Barkley. While back trouble derailed his promising career, he was still an offensive force with Charlotte, who also put up impressive assist numbers from the power forward position. Emeka Okafor, the starting center, was a very good rim protector who averaged a double-double in his Charlotte career. Off the bench, Elden Campbell and Nazr Mohammed provide size and rim protection, and should get plenty of minutes behind the smaller starters.
What started off as a very promising franchise has devolved into one of the laughingstocks of the NBA. Even their legendary owner’s reputation has taken a hit since he took over the team. An influx of talent is needed to turn around the fortunes of both the modern day and all-time franchise teams, but, unfortunately, there does not seem to be much help coming on the horizon.
Coach: Dave Cowens
All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .434