In a mid-market like Charlotte, building a contender isn’t about luring superstars—it’s about getting the draft right. The NBA Draft is the great equalizer, a lifeline for franchises without the draw of a coastal spotlight.
Once upon a time, the Hornets had a knack for finding gems in the draft, unearthing talent that energized a city and shifted the league's attention. But over the years, that magic touch has faded—replaced by questionable picks, inconsistent vision, and front-office instability.
With GM Jeff Peterson steering the ship into his second offseason, the pressure is real to revive the culture and restore the buzz. Before looking at what’s next, let’s rewind and examine the defining players and mistakes that shaped the Hornets’ past and display how the franchise ended up here.
The Golden Era: Draft Hits and Cultural Icons
Larry Johnson ("Grandmama") | 1991–1996
The Hornets' first true star. LJ was Rookie of the Year (1992), a two-time All-Star, and the face of the franchise during its early '90s popularity boom. His "Grandmama" persona and charisma helped make Charlotte basketball cool.
Signature Moment: The iconic Converse commercials and All-Star Game appearances made him a national figure.
Alonzo Mourning | 1992–1995
Though his time in Charlotte was brief, Mourning hit arguably the most iconic shot in franchise history—his buzzer-beater to beat Boston in the 1993 playoffs, Charlotte’s first-ever postseason series win.
Legacy: Intensity and Hall of Fame-caliber play gave Charlotte instant legitimacy.
Mourning’s Buzzer-Beater vs. Celtics (1993 First Round, Game 4): Alonzo Mourning hits a 20-footer at the buzzer to clinch the series. It was the franchise’s first-ever playoff series win, and it came in spectacular fashion—knocking off the storied Boston Celtics in front of a wild Charlotte Coliseum crowd.
Glen Rice | 1995–1998
A scoring machine who made three straight All-Star Games and was named MVP of the 1997 All-Star Game. Rice helped elevate Charlotte to consistent playoff contention in the late ’90s.
Legacy: One of the most efficient and dangerous scorers in franchise history.
1998 First Round Upset of the Atlanta Hawks (3–1): Glen Rice, Vlade Divac, and Anthony Mason powered the Hornets past a 50-win Hawks team. A gritty, physical team led by a scorer (Rice) and a glue guy (Mason) shocked a higher seed—classic late-‘90s NBA grind-it-out basketball.
Baron Davis | 1999–2002
B-Diddy was electric. From poster dunks to pure swagger, he gave late-era Charlotte (and briefly New Orleans) Hornets a jolt of star power. He was must-watch, a walking highlight reel.
Signature Moment: His Game 1 takeover vs. the Heat in the 2001 playoffs.
Legacy: Paved the way for the 2000s era of explosive, combo-guard-led basketball.
Moment: (2000-2001) Hornets sweep a veteran-laden Heat team (3–0) behind Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn. It was the Hornets’ first and only playoff series sweep. (2001-2002) Defeated Magic the following year in a thrilling series only to lose to the Eastern Conference Champs in New Jersey Nets.
Kemba Walker.
Kemba Walker during his time with the Charlotte Hornets.
© Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
The Relocation and the Struggle to Reignite the Buzz
Then the team was moved... Here comes the losing.
Kemba Walker | 2011–2019
The all-time leading scorer in franchise history and the heart of the modern-era Hornets. Kemba’s loyalty and clutch play gave fans a reason to believe during otherwise lean years.
Legacy: Three-time All-Star as a Hornet, beloved for his toughness and leadership.
Went to the playoffs only twice out of his 9 years.
2016 First Round vs. Miami Heat (7 Games): The Kemba-led Hornets pushed Dwyane Wade and the Heat to a full seven games.
Signature Moment: Charlotte wins three straight games (3–2 lead) behind heroics from Kemba Walker and Courtney Lee's Game 5 dagger.
Kemba Walker’s 35-Point Game in Game 6 (2016): Kemba drops 37 in a wild Game 6 loss, nearly carrying the Hornets into the second round. It was peak Kemba—clutch, relentless, and carrying a franchise on his back.
Bittersweet Ending: Miami stormed back in Games 6 and 7, but it was still the Hornets’ deepest push in the 21st century.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1)
© Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
LaMelo Ball | 2020–Present
He brings back relevance, cool, and creativity to Buzz City. From the moment he arrived, LaMelo was a walking highlight, a fashion icon, and a marketing dream.
Legacy in Progress: Rookie of the Year & All-star. He’s the franchise's best shot at becoming nationally relevant again.
X-Factor: He might become the first Hornet ever to transcend the franchise itself.
Draft Picks: 1990–2002
Successes:
Larry Johnson (1991, 1st overall): A dominant force, Johnson earned Rookie of the Year honors and became the franchise's first All-Star. His tenure solidified the Hornets' presence in the NBA.
Alonzo Mourning (1992, 2nd overall): A defensive stalwart, Mourning made an immediate impact, leading the team to its first playoff series win with a memorable buzzer-beater against the Celtics.
Baron Davis (1999, 3rd overall): Known for his explosive athleticism, Davis became an All-Star and was instrumental in the team's early 2000s success.
Jamaal Magloire (2000, 19th overall): A solid center who earned an All-Star selection in 2004, providing stability in the post.
Misses:
George Zidek (1995, 22nd overall): Struggled to make an impact in the NBA, playing only a few seasons with limited contributions.
Kirk Haston (2001, 16th overall): Had a brief NBA career, appearing in just 27 games over two seasons.
Notable Trades:
Kobe Bryant (1996, 13th overall): Drafted by the Hornets but traded to the Lakers for Vlade Divac. Bryant became one of the greatest players in NBA history, making this one of the most infamous trades in franchise history.
Draft Picks: 2011–Present
Successes:
Kemba Walker (2011, 9th overall): The franchise's all-time leading scorer, Walker was a three-time All-Star and the face of the team during his tenure.
LaMelo Ball (2020, 3rd overall): Won Rookie of the Year and became an All-Star, bringing excitement and hope to the franchise's future.
Mark Williams (2022, 15th overall): A promising young center who has shown potential with impressive rebounding and shot-blocking abilities.
Misses:
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2012, 2nd overall): Despite defensive prowess, he never developed into the star the team hoped for, especially when compared to other players from his draft class.
Frank Kaminsky (2015, 9th overall): Had a decent career but didn't live up to the expectations of a top-10 pick.
Notable Trades:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2018, 11th overall): Drafted by the Hornets but traded to the Clippers for Miles Bridges. SGA has since become an All-Star and one of the league's top guards, making this trade a significant misstep.
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets mascot Buzz entertains fans during a timeout of a game against the Boston Celtics at Spectrum Center
Nell Redmond-Imagn Images
Final Thoughts
The Hornets have rarely had sustained dominance, but they’ve always had personality—players who mattered, culturally and emotionally, even if the banners didn’t follow. This list isn’t just about stats; it’s about spark. Style. Heart.
And with LaMelo (if healthy) and a franchise finally finding its footing in the front office and ownership group, the next transcendent Hornet might not just be a highlight machine… but a winner, too.
The earlier years of the Hornets were where the franchise was born; time after time, the draft picks were on par—from Kendall Gill, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning—Charlotte seemed to pick the right talent, which built a competitive culture.
They made the playoffs 7 times in 12 years—but then, something changed. The formula vanished. The magic dried up. What happened to the Hornets' draft-day touch? That’s the mystery we’ll unravel next.