35 of the most influential people in 35 years of the Charlotte Hornets — and Bobcats

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35 years of Charlotte Hornets

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With the Charlotte Hornets celebrating the franchise’s 35th anniversary during the 2023-24 season, The Observer takes a look at 35 of the most influential individuals in the city’s professional basketball history.

They are listed in alphabetical order.

LaMelo Ball

Hornets guard, 2020-Present

In just a few short years, he’s made a lasting impression. The Hornets had never given out a rookie max contract extension until they inked Ball to the franchise-record deal, making him the highest-paid player in the history of pro sports in Charlotte. He’s racked up nine triple-doubles in his career already, which is the most in franchise history.

Bob Bass

Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations/GM, 1994-2002

Bass is considered the architect of some of the best teams in Charlotte history. The Hornets posted winning records in each of his last five seasons, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals three times. He died in 2018.

Muggsy Bogues

Hornets guard, 1988-1998

Known for his 5-foot-3 stature, Bogues holds team records that haven’t been sniffed for nearly 20 years. The feisty floor general is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (5,557) and steals (1,067), and is also second in team history in games started (501) and minutes (19,768) behind Kemba Walker.

Now: Hornets ambassador and special projects adviser

Allan Bristow

Hornets head coach, 1991-1996

During Charlotte’s initial glory days, Bristow was the man in charge. He helped guide the Hornets to their first postseason appearance in 1992-93, and led them to their first playoff series victory during that same year. His 207 career wins with the Hornets ranks second, trailing only Steve Clifford.

Rex Chapman

Hornets guard, 1988-1992

Chapman has the distinction of being the Hornets’ first draft pick, selected eighth overall in 1988. If YouTube were around when he was playing, his athleticism would have made some of his clips go viral, especially when he competed in the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest in 1990 and 1991. He averaged 16.9 points per game in his rookie season.

Now: TV/media personality

Steve Clifford

Hornets head coach, 2013-18/2022-Present

Clifford is the franchise’s all-time career leader in wins with 223 heading into this season. During his first stint with the team, he compiled a 196-214 mark in five seasons and led the Hornets to a pair of playoff appearances.

Eric Collins

Hornets TV broadcaster, 2015-Present

Now in his ninth season as the team’s television play-by-play voice, Collins has become synonymous with Hornets highlights. His playfully-exciting style behind the microphone since taking over for the legendary Steve Martin in 2015, and catchphrases he uses on the Bally Sports Southeast broadcasts — “Hum Diddly Dee!” — make him a staple in the Hornets’ landscape.

Dave Cowens

Head coach, 1996-1999

As the Hornets’ top man at the end of the bench in the late 1990s, he compiled two 50-plus win seasons. One was a 13-game improvement from the season prior to his arrival. The Hornets made the playoffs in each of his first two seasons.

Dell Curry

Hornets guard, 1988-1998

Perhaps no one, outside of Kemba Walker, maybe, is more associated with the Hornets than the man who wore No. 30. The league’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1993-94, he still leads Charlotte in made field goals (3,022) and games played (701), and ranks second in made 3-pointers with 929.

Now: Hornets color for Bally TV Southeast

Baron Davis

Hornets guard, 1999-2002

Selected with the third overall pick in 1999, he was a staple in leading the Hornets to the playoffs in three straight seasons prior to the team’s departure for New Orleans. The All-Star ranks fourth in franchise history in steals and assists per game, and is also fifth in total assists and seventh in steals.

Now: Became tech guru and has several ventures, including partnering in a company called WealthFlix, a subscription-based web platform.

Patrick “Big Pat” Doughty

Bobcats/Hornets PA announcer, 2004-Present

Arguably Charlotte’s most famous public address announcer, he’s been on board ever since former owner Bob Johnson sought to shake things up with the team’s in-game experience after the Bobcats’ inaugural season. His booming voice is essentially woven into the fabric of the Spectrum Center.

James K. Flynn

Hornets PA announcer, 1988-2002

He’s the team’s original public address announcer and coined some of the phrases that are still used today, such as, “It’s Friday night and we are live at the Hive.” He also was behind the arena mic for the WNBA’s now-defunct Charlotte Sting.

Now: Lives in Charlotte and dabbles in media

Al Jefferson

Bobcats/Hornets center, 2013-2016

Although his career in Charlotte was marred by injuries, “Big Al’s” free agency signing in 2013 with the Bobcats boosted the franchise, because few top free agents came here. He was enamored with the idea of teaming up with Kemba Walker, and earned third-team All-NBA honors in 2014 after averaging a double-double.

Bob Johnson

Bobcats owner, 2004-2010

Along with then-NBA commissioner David Stern, he’s responsible for bringing professional basketball back to Charlotte after his purchase of the expansion franchise in 2002. He was the first African American to be a majority owner in one of the United States’ top four sports leagues.

Now: Owns RLJ Companies, LLC, which provides strategic investments for a variety of corporations

Larry Johnson

Hornets forward, 1991-1996

Who could forget Grandmama? His unique combination of power, agility and incredible leaping skills made him a special player from his initial season in the league, when he collected first-team rookie honors. He’s also the franchise’s only first-team All-NBA selection, getting recognized for helping them reach the playoffs for the initial time in the team’s three-plus decade history.

Now: Was most recently a basketball and business operations representative with the New York Knicks.

Michael Jordan

Hornets owner, 2010-2023

Although the Hall of Famer didn’t produce a perennial winner as he had hoped, he had a hand in giving the franchise some relevancy, especially spearheading the name change from Bobcats back to Hornets in 2014. In rebranding the league’s top prestigious awards a year ago, the NBA named the trophy given annually to the most valuable player the Michael Jordan Trophy, further cementing his legacy in the sport.

Now: Hornets alternate governor

Alexander Julian

Fashion designer

If you don’t know who he is, it’s safe to say you are familiar with the Chapel Hill native’s work. The American fashion designer, who founded the Colours clothing brand, designed the Hornets’ original uniforms when the team joined the NBA. The teal-and-purple scheme rapidly became one of the league’s most iconic and remains revered to this day.

Now: He recently moved back to Chapel Hill after spending nearly 50 years in New York and Connecticut.

Mitch Kupchak

President of basketball operations/GM, 2018-Present

When he first arrived, the Hornets were mired in salary-cap misery caused by bloated contracts. Using a methodical approach, he tightened the ship financially and helped stabilize things with the drafting of LaMelo Ball and inking him to a record deal.

Steve Martin

Hornets/Bobcats broadcaster 1988-2019

His iconic voice is synonymous with the team thanks to his time on TV and radio. Prior to retiring at the end of the 2018 season, Martin called every season of NBA action in Charlotte from the original Hornets’ debut in 1988.

Now: Retired

Alonzo Mourning

Hornets power forward, 1992-1995

He was a beast from the get-go after being selected No. 2 overall behind Shaquille O’Neal, averaging 21 points, 10.3 rebounds and a franchise-best 3.5 blocks en route to grabbing All-Rookie first team honors. Hit one of the most memorable shots in team history, nailing a free throw line jumper to lift the Hornets past the Boston Celtics for the franchise’s first playoff series victory.

Now: Miami Heat VP/player programs & development

Emeka Okafor

Bobcats center, 2004-2009

As the No. 2 overall pick in 2004 behind Dwight Howard, he was the face of the expansion team during its inaugural season in Charlotte. He was a double-double machine in his initial four years and joined Larry Johnson as the only players in franchise’s history to collect rookie of the year honors.

Now: Okafor last played in the NBA for New Orleans in 2018, and most recently played in Korea in 2019-20. In 2022, he told CT Insider he hadn’t officially retired, and was keeping an eye out for the “right opportunity” to play overseas.

Bobby Phills

Hornets guard, 1998-2000

Named a team captain in just his second season and one of the most popular players to play professionally in Charlotte, his jersey is the only one that’s retired and hangs in the Spectrum Center rafters. He was tragically killed in what police said was a car wreck that happened near the old Charlotte Coliseum while racing David Wesley after a morning shootaround in 2000.

Kurt Rambis

Hornets forward, 1988-1990

Statistically, the guy known partially for his dark-rimmed glasses, had one of his best seasons with the Hornets. He started each of the 91 games in which he appeared in during his year-plus in Charlotte, almost averaging a double-double in the team’s inaugural season in 1988-89 with 11.1 points and 9.4 rebounds. Had that key putback to beat Chicago and spoil Michael Jordan’s first outing in Charlotte against the Hornets.

Now: Los Angeles Lakers senior basketball adviser

Glen Rice

Hornets forward, 1995-1998

A two-time All-NBA selection, he was the first three-time All-Star in team history and was also the recipient of the All-Star game’s MVP award in 1997. His shooting stroke was a thing of beauty and the ball always felt like it was going to swish through the net when he unleashed it.

Now: Scout/Miami Heat team ambassador

Rick Schnall

Hornets co-chairman/governor, 2023-Present

In a matter of months since coming on board fully as the new majority co-owner along with Gabe Plotkin, he’s already changing the culture and vibe around the organization. He’s all about bringing a winning product to the city and improving the overall product and experience for both players and fans.

George Shinn

Hornets owner, 1988-2002

The man who conceived the Hornets and brought the NBA to Charlotte, he was the Hornets’ original owner before eventually moving the team to New Orleans in 2002 after he couldn’t come to an agreement with the city over construction of a new arena. The Hornets’ early success and sold-out games partially assisted in the NFL also expanding into the Carolinas, with the Panthers’ creation in 1995.

Now: Involved in philanthropy work

Paul Silas

Hornets/Bobcats head coach, 1998-2002/2010-2012

The gentle giant served as the head coach of Charlotte’s NBA team on two separate occasions. He led the Hornets to four straight winning seasons from 1998-2002 before the franchise moved. His second tour of duty was a two-year stint with the Bobcats, where he coached Kemba Walker as a rookie. He died in December 2022.

David Stern

NBA commissioner, 1984-2014

Without him, pro basketball in Charlotte never happens. Twice. Not only was he instrumental in awarding the city an expansion franchise in 1987, he was at the forefront of helping the league return to the Carolinas two years after the original Hornets moved to New Orleans, bringing the Bobcats to life. Among the tasks he completed before leaving his post was ensuring someone who transcended the sport — Michael Jordan — took ownership control of a team that had become devalued by tens of millions of dollars. He died in 2020.

Kelly Tripucka

Hornets forward, 1988-1991

Multi-talented, he enjoyed renewed success upon his arrival from Utah in the expansion draft, averaging 22.6 points in 1988-89. He scored the first points in team history and the 87.9% he shot from the free throw line during his three seasons with Charlotte still has him atop the team’s all-time list.

Now: Was recently a member of Compass Networks as an analyst

Kemba Walker

Bobcats/Hornets guard, 2012-2019

Arguably the best Hornet ever. He’s Charlotte’s all-time leading scorer is sits No. 1 on the leaderboard in multiple categories. The three-time All-Star is one of only two Charlotte players to be named All-NBA in the team’s past 19 years.

Now: Playing for AS Monaco on a one-year deal

Gerald Wallace

Bobcats forward, 2004-2011

Numbers didn’t always highlight the complete impact of the hard-nosed, blue-collar University of Alabama product. An All-Star and Charlotte’s all-time leader in defensive rebounds with 5,798, he’s one of four players in franchise history to collect all-defensive honors and he’s the lone recipient of a first-team selection.

Now: Coaching basketball in his Alabama hometown at Childersburg High School

David Wesley

Hornets guard, 1997-2002

A fixture as the starting shooting guard for five seasons, he posted a career-best 17.6 points per game in 2000-01. He ranks seventh in team history in minutes played (13,046) and is sixth in steals (551), seventh in made field goals (1920)) and eighth in minutes per game (36) just to name a few categories.

Now: TV analyst for New Orleans Pelicans

Fred Whitfield

Chief operating officer, 2006-Present

The respected longtime executive oversees the business operations and was instrumental in changing the team’s name from the Bobcats back to Hornets in 2014. He was also responsible for working closely with the NBA to get the 2019 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte after the league pulled out of its original plan to have the Hornets host the event in 2017 due to HB2, which limited anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the state.

Marvin Williams

Hornets forward, 2015-2019

Take a peek at some of the top — and most arduous — statistical categories on the Hornets’ all-time list and his name is scattered throughout. A pillar of professionalism, durability and accountability, he ranks eighth in total games played (429), minutes played (11615), fourth in made 3-point field goals (681) and 10th in steals (388)

Now: Works in Hornets basketball operations.

Michael Zerrillo

Hugo the Hornet, 1990-2002

His name may not ring a bell, but his performances and high-flying entertainment act should. He’s the original Hugo the Hornet. He played Charlotte’s beloved mascot for 12 years, getting a rise out of fans at each and every game with his unique act and known all over the world.

Now: Lives in Charlotte and is doing sales for a commercial heating and air company.

This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 5:30 AM.

Roderick Boone

The Charlotte Observer

Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription