NBA
Top 5 Hornets Players of All-Time + Fan Rankings
Create your own all-time rankings of the top 5 greatest players in Charlotte Hornets history from Kemba Walker to Kevin Johnson to Glen Rice
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March 28, 2022 marks the four-year anniversary of Kemba Walker passing Dell Curry as the all-time leader in career points, so it’s a great time to look at the Charlotte Hornets’ top-5 greatest players of all time with him topping the list.
Alex Raphael also contributed to these Charlotte Hornets rankings.
The Charlotte Hornets were originally an expansion franchise that was first established in 1988. They were one of four teams that were added to the NBA in the late 1980’s. Over the duration of their existence, they’ve altered their team nickname from the Hornets, to the Bobcats, then back to the Hornets in 2014. Their postseason presence hasn’t been very prominent with the team only making 10 playoff appearances but plenty of prestigious players have hit the hardwood in Charlotte.
With their history mostly consisting of being in the lottery part of the draft, they have selected some amazing stars with their early picks. Going back to the first real star they drafted during 1991 in Larry Johnson, all the way up to LaMelo Ball. They know how to add that key player who becomes a fan favorite but have struggled to finally get the first NBA championship under their belt.
Still a great conversation over just a short franchise’s history of just 32 years, fans can still debate the top players this franchise has ever seen wear the teal and purple. Honorable mention includes: G Muggsy Bogues, F/C Alonzo Mourning, and C/F Emeka Okafor with homegrown stars such as G LaMelo Ball and F Miles Bridges possibly cracking this list one day.
Here are the top 5 greatest Hornets players of all time. Create your own rankings below!
– 3x All-Star, 2019 All-NBA; Hornets leader in PTS (12,009)
– Leader in 3PM (1,283), FGM (4,164), FTM (2,398)
– Most PTS (60) in single GP, most consecutive FTM (53)
Kemba Walker, commonly called “Cardiac Kemba”, made Charlotte fans’ hearts skip a beat for eight seasons with killer crossovers and clutch buckets. Walker was an All-NBA player in 2018-19 with 25.6 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.4 RPG. The floor general’s remains top three in franchise PTS, AST, and STL to cap off his incredible career in North Carolina.
Kemba Walker's #Hornets records:
– Career PTS (12,009), 3PM (1,283), FGM (4,164), FTM (2,398), & MIN (20,607)
– Seasons of 50+/100+/150+/200+/250+ 3PM
– Seasons of 15+ (7) & 20+ (4) PPG
– Season 3PM (260) & FGM (731)
– Consecutive FTM (53)pic.twitter.com/XTc4iBgGiX— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 28, 2022
– 2x All-Star, 1993 All-NBA, 1992 ROY and All-Rookie Team
– Most season OREB (1,186); Led NBA in MPG (40.5) in ’93
– 1st Hornets player to start All-Star Game in 1993
Only bringing Charlotte to Round 2 of the playoffs once in his five-year stand, Larry Johnson did, however, bring about a boatload of points and rebounds which solidifies his top spot. Johnson is top-five in both scoring and rebounds for Charlotte, hitting his prime in 1992-93 as an All-NBA player with 22.1 PPG and 10.5 RPG.
https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1106198089881268224
– 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA team, 1997 All-Star Game MVP
– Hornets career leader in MPG (40.8) & PPG (23.5)
– Led NBA in 3P% (.470) in ’97, most MIN (53) in 1 GP
Throughout his 15 years in the league, Glen Rice interestingly only happened upon the All-Star team in his three years spent with Charlotte. Hitting his prime at the age of 29, Rice dedicated 26.8 PPG to the scoring column on a league-high 47% from distance that season.
HBD GLEN RICE 🔥
NCAA Champion
NBA Champion
3-Point Champion
All-Star Game MVPBest Games With
Heat: 56 (20/27 FG)
Hornets: 48 (18/27 FG)
Lakers: 40 (14/20 FG)— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 29, 2021
– 2010 All-Star, 2010 All-Defensive team; 2006 STL (2.5) leader
– Most Hornets career DREB (2,623); Most STL (6) in 1 GP
– 1 of 3 players with 2+ BPG & 2+ SPG in 1 season
Logging his sole All-Star selection with Charlotte, Gerald Wallace proved to be an all-purpose player in his seven seasons. Wallace was a workhorse defensively with a loaded arsenal on offense which made him a hassle to deal with nightly.
– Was Hornets career leader in PTS (9,839) until 2018
– Most career GP (701) & 2PM (2,022) in Hornets history
– 1993-94 NBA 6th Man of the Year with 16.3 PPG in 82 GP
Dell Curry is one of the greatest shooters in scorers to ever don a Charlotte uniform. The name ‘Curry’ is now more recognizable because of his superstar son but while Stephen was growing up in North Carolina, it was his father putting on a show every night for the Hornets. He was an innovator of the 6th Man and the franchise’s all-time leading scorer until Kemba Walker surpassed him two decades after his last game.
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