The Buzz Is Back: The 10 Greatest Charlotte Hornets Of All-Time

The Charlotte Hornets have been on the losing end of a custody battle between North Carolina’s largest city and New Orleans. The team moved to the Crescent City in 2002, retaining the Hornet name while Charlotte reemerged as the Bobcats in 2004. The New Orleans version recently switched their mascot to the Pelicans (to much Internet slander) which left the Hornet namesake up for grabs.

Charlotte Bobcat owner and NBA legend, Michael Jordan just announced that at the start of the 2014-2015 season, the Bobcats will morph back into the Hornets to revitalize their branding.

Via FOX:

Jordan said in a release Sunday that ”it was important to us to acknowledge the heritage of the Charlotte Hornets when bringing the name back to the market” and ”the purple and teal color scheme was instantly recognizable as being associated with the original Hornets.”

On Monday, the organization will begin a three-week campaign focused on ”painting the city” with the return of the purple and teal colors to Charlotte.

The Charlotte Hornets were never a winning franchise but they remained popular for their run-and-gun style and fashionable colors in the 1990s. By reverting back to those ways, they could see a spark that was never quite there under the Bobcat moniker.

To celebrate the switch, we’ve drummed up the The 10 Greatest Charlotte Hornets Of All-Time. Not New Orleans-based players or Bobcat members.

This one’s for North Carolina © Petey Pablo.

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Photo: FOX

Kendall Gill

Photo: ESPN

The Chicago native helped mold the Hornets into a marketable franchise early in the 1991–92 season, when he averaged over 20 points per game.

Rex Chapman

Photo: The Bird Writes

The future NBA journeyman never was billed as a “Great White Hope” because he never needed the farce buzz. He average 16.3 points per game as a rookie with the team in teal.

Anthony Mason

Photo: NBA

The Charlotte Hornets benefitted greatly from Anthony Mason’s tenure as an enforcer with the New York Knicks. He also was known for his flashy hairstyles that didn’t cross the Rodman line.

Eddie Jones

Photo: Tumblr

After the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t have enough balls to come around, Eddie Jones ventured down south and averaged nearly 20 points-per-game off rip.

Baron Davis

Photo: ESPN

B-Diddy emerged as a star right before the Hornets jumped ship to the N.O. And we’re thankful he didn’t end up like Steve Francis.

Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues

Photo: Hoopistani

Although he only stood 5’3″, Muggsy Bogues played with the heart of a ten footer. Don’t let his short stature full you either. He reportedly could also dunk.

Dell Curry

Photo: Ball Is Life

You don’t think Steph Curry learned his deadly [shooting] stroke on his own time do you? The elder Curry is actually the franchise’s all-time leader in points, games played, three-point field goals made and attempted, and three-point field goal percentage.

Glen Rice

Photo: Mark Duncan

Glen Rice never found a team he couldn’t nail a 3-pointer for but as a Hornet, he was the 1997 NBA All-Star MVP.

Larry Johnson

Photo: Converse

Although his potential was stunted due to injuries, Larry Johnson was the face of the Charlotte franchise. Even if he was a contradictory Madea.

Alonzo Mourning

Photo: Lou Capozzola

From Georgetown to Charlotte to his NBA championship coronation, Alonzo Mourning always gave his all to the life on the hardwood. He is now an advocate for people who suffer for kidney ailments.