Greetings and Salutations to all to start this blog off I will be doing a series where I go through every team in the NBA and make a ‘Dream Team’ of sorts. What this encompasses is the best: 5 players, Coach, Emblem and Uniform. I will be going alphabetically hope we all enjoy this!
To put it lightly the Charlotte Hornets are not the most successful franchise in NBA history, being one of three teams in history to never make it to the conference finals, and just one of two teams to never win their division. Currently a team stuck in mediocracy with some young talents such as Malik Monk who is only averaging 12 minutes per game for some reason, the fans do not exactly have a lot to write home about besides Cardiac Kemba (and when Dwight decides to try for a game or two). Founded in 1988 the Hornets first found success in 1992 when they drafted a young centre from Georgetown called Alonzo Mourning, and for a ten year period they enjoyed some winning by reaching the conference semi-finals four times. As we all (should) know the hornets were moved the New Orleans in 2002 leaving a basketball shaped hole in Charlotte. Enter the Charlotte Bobcats (Y I K E S), proving to be one of the historically worst teams in the NBA, they only made the playoffs once from 2004-2014. Thankfully in 2014 the Hornets managed to get their history back from the Pelicans and moved on in a new direction.
Honourable Mentions: Mugsy Bouges, Baron Davis
To put it lightly the Charlotte Hornets are not the most successful franchise in NBA history, being one of three teams in history to never make it to the conference finals, and just one of two teams to never win their division. Currently a team stuck in mediocracy with some young talents such as Malik Monk who is only averaging 12 minutes per game for some reason, the fans do not exactly have a lot to write home about besides Cardiac Kemba (and when Dwight decides to try for a game or two). Founded in 1988 the Hornets first found success in 1992 when they drafted a young centre from Georgetown called Alonzo Mourning, and for a ten year period they enjoyed some winning by reaching the conference semi-finals four times. As we all (should) know the hornets were moved the New Orleans in 2002 leaving a basketball shaped hole in Charlotte. Enter the Charlotte Bobcats (Y I K E S), proving to be one of the historically worst teams in the NBA, they only made the playoffs once from 2004-2014. Thankfully in 2014 the Hornets managed to get their history back from the Pelicans and moved on in a new direction.
All Time Starting 5
PG - Kemba Walker
'Cardiac' Kemba Walker is currently in his 7th year with the franchise and is the Hornets all time leading scorer. He is undisputedly one of the most important Hornets in history and will continue to carry them for the foreseeable future (if he is not traded). So far Kemba is averaging: 19 points, 5.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals. At the time of writing this Kemba just became the all time leader scorer in the franchise. Nice.
He has been named an All-Star twice (2017, 2018)
Kemba currently ranks 1st in points (9841) and 3pt field goals (1006), 2nd in assists (2787), 3rd in minutes played (17477) and 4th in win shares (40.9) and steals (692) in franchise history.
Honourable Mentions: Mugsy Bouges, Baron Davis
SG - Gerald Wallace
(Yes he was a SF fight me)
Literally one of the only bright spots during the 'Bobcats' era in the NBA was a man named Gerald Wallace. He managed to lead the Bobcats to their only playoff appearance, and had a great series averaging 17.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. Also in my personal opinion he is one of the most underrated dunkers in the history of the NBA.
Gerald played seven years for the Bobcats being their brightest star during a not so great period. He averaged 16.4 points, 2.4 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Whilst with the team Gerald had:
- One All-Star appearance (2010)
- One NBA All-Defensive First Team (2010)
- Lead the league in steals in 2006 (2.5 per game)
Gerald ranks 1st in win shares (45.9), 2nd in steals (827), 3rd in rebounds (3398) blocks (531) and points (7437) and 4th in games played (454).
Honourable Mention: Dell Curry
Honourable Mention: Dell Curry
SF - Glen Rice
Glen Rice was the hope in the Alonzo Mourning (get to him later) trade, and is the only reason the trade was even remotely ok for the Hornets, as in the 3 years he played for the team he was considered to be an 'elite' player in the league. However playoff success was once again out of the reach for the team even when the duo of Rice and Johnson was arguably one of the more exciting duos in the league at the time. After three short years the Hornets traded their marquee player for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell of the LA Lakers. Whilst with the Hornets Rice averaged 23.5 points, 2.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1 steal.
Whilst with the team Rice achieved:
Whilst with the team Rice achieved:
- 3x NBA All-Star (1996-98)
- All-NBA Second Team (1997)
- All-NBA Third Team (1998)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1997)
Glen ranks 3rd in 3pt field goals (508), 5th in points (5651) and 7th in win shares (28.4)
Honourable Mention: Eddie Jones
PF - Larry Johnson
One of the strongest men to ever grace the hardwood Larry Johnson stood at 6'6 and was one of the best PF's in the league for a number of years. Spending five somewhat successful years in Charlotte he became one of the faces of the franchise and was integral to any success on the court. He was also the franchises first ever 1st pick in the draft (save that one for Tuesday trivia at the pub). Furthermore in October 1993 the Hornets gave 'Grandmama' (questionable nickname but lets bring it back) a 12-year $84 million contract, which was the biggest in NBA history at the time. Unfortunately Larry was traded to the Knicks due to tension between him, Alonzo and the franchise after the 95-96 season. Larry averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks.
LJ's achievements include:
- 2x NBA All-Star (1993, 1995)
- All-NBA Second Team (1993)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1992)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1992)
He ranks 2nd in total rebounds (3479), 4th in points (7405) and win shares (41.1)
Honourable Mention: Anthony Mason
C - Alonzo Mourning
I am not a Hornets fan but if I was I would lowkey hate Zo, who knows what would have happened if he and LJ grew together in the league, in just two seasons they posted a 50+ win season and were on track to reach their peak when Jordan was ready to retire. In my opinion is one of the big what ifs in the NBA; Zo rejected a 7 year $11.2 million a year contract and request a trade. He got his wish and was essentially traded for Glen Rice. For the Hornets Zo averaged 21.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.2 blocks!! and 0.5 steals.
His accolades include:
- 2x NBA All-Star (1994-95)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993)
He ranks 1st in steals (684), 5th in total rebounds (2176) and 10th in win shares (23.9)
Honourable Mention: Al Jefferson
Coach
Paul Silas
Coaching over the most successful time in franchise history always helps in this category (go figure hey), having coached the second most games in team history Paul boasts a 57% regular season win rate and 47.8% in the playoffs (combined 304 games coached). And if he didn't coach during 2011-12 (lets not talk about it) it would be a much better record.
Honourable Mentions: Dave Cowens, Allan Bristow
Jersey
Every time I see someone in a Larry Johnson jersey I think 'Yeah i like that shit', and it seems for a while there everyone had a flat cap from that era so its cool because how good is going with whatever everyone else thinks.
Next up is the Dallas Mavericks
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