Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets carry one of basketball's most vibrant and complex franchise histories. Born in 1988 as an NBA expansion team, the original Hornets instantly captured the city's heart with their iconic teal-and-purple uniforms and an electric atmosphere inside the Charlotte Coliseum — one of the loudest arenas in league history. Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Muggsy Bogues, Dell Curry, and Glen Rice formed the nucleus of a competitive squad that made multiple playoff appearances throughout the 1990s, with their 54-win 1996-97 season representing the franchise's peak on the court. Despite never reaching the NBA Finals, the original Hornets cultivated a fanbase as passionate as any in professional basketball.

After owner George Shinn controversially relocated the franchise to New Orleans in 2002 — a move that devastated Charlotte — the city campaigned aggressively for a new team. In 2004, the NBA granted Charlotte an expansion franchise, initially called the Bobcats, under owner Robert Johnson. The early Bobcat years were lean, but the franchise made steady progress, drafting Kemba Walker in 2011 and building around his relentless energy and scoring ability.

In 2013, when the New Orleans team rebranded to the Pelicans, Charlotte was granted the right to reclaim both the Hornets name and the original franchise's full history — championships, retired numbers, and statistical records included. The rebranding in 2014 signaled a new era, and when Michael Jordan — himself a North Carolina native — became the controlling owner, Charlotte seemed poised for its next chapter.

The 2020 NBA Draft transformed everything. Selecting LaMelo Ball third overall, Charlotte landed a generational playmaker whose behind-the-back passes, half-court vision, and magnetic personality made him one of the NBA's most exciting players almost immediately. Ball won the 2021 Rookie of the Year Award and was named an All-Star in 2023, establishing himself as the unquestioned face of the franchise. Paired with high-upside young talent in Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Tidjane Salaun, the Hornets are building toward their first real championship contention window.