The nickname ‘Hornets’ dates back to the Revolutionary War, when British General Charles Cornwallis compared Charlotte’s resistance to the sound of a hornets’ nest. The nickname has since been used to refer to the city’s minor league baseball team from 1901-73, upstart football team in 1974-75, and the first NBA franchise. As a result, Charlotte is known for its ‘Hornets’, which are proud of their basketball team’s rich history and proud tradition of supporting the city.
Gerald Wallace played for charlotte hornets
Known as “G-Force,” Gerald Wallace played seven seasons for the Charlotte Hornets. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. In his career, he earned more than $102 million in salary. Though he never had a name on his chest, Wallace was an All-Star. His defensive skills earned him a spot on the First Team of the NBA’s Defensive League. He averaged over eight points, ten rebounds, two assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. He played on the wing for the Charlotte Hornets for seven seasons, and he played for the team for eight.
Gerald Wallace has a reputation as being reckless, and he often got injured. His rash style earned him the nickname “Crash.” His aggressive play led to his numerous injuries, which earned him the nickname “Crash”. In his first two years with the Bobcats, he missed 39 games due to injury. But as he became more refined, he was able to avoid injury and reduced his numbers.
Gerald Henderson drafted by charlotte hornets
The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke guard Gerald Henderson with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Henderson has impressive athleticism and an explosive leaping ability. He also has great lateral quickness on both ends of the floor. Although his size and athleticism is good enough to compete as a guard in the NBA, his ball-handling still needs work. The Charlotte Hornets expect him to improve on this front.
While Henderson won’t be a go-to scoring swingman for Charlotte, he’s a two-way player with strong intangibles. He isn’t the best shooter, but he’ll be an adequate backup for the wing or bench. Charlotte needs a solid rotational player with some shooting ability. With plenty of room for growth, Henderson is likely to turn into a consistent deep threat for the Hornets.
Kobe Bryant drafted by charlotte hornets
The Charlotte Hornets could have made Kobe Bryant a superstar if they’d drafted him when he was just a teenager. That would have made the young star more productive and likely to make more mistakes early in his career. This team would have molded around him instead of another star. Kobe would have been a Charlotte Hornet for life. Instead, the Hornets traded Larry Johnson in the summer of 1996, which would have pushed the young forward to a free-agent status.
Kobe Bryant played just 16 days with the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. He developed a bitter resentment for the city. But that didn’t stop him from playing in Charlotte, as the Lakers traded him to the team for Vlade Divac. Kobe Bryant went to Los Angeles, but he never forgot his first draft night. The Hornets may not have drafted him, but they didn’t give him enough credit to make the Lakers an NBA contender.
Miles Bridges re-signed by charlotte hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have extended a qualifying offer to guard Miles Bridges, a move that keeps the team in the mix for a bigger deal with another team. A qualifying offer is meant to help a small-market team retain its best young players by offering them a contract above the league average. Bridges would have had two days to match the offer. Now, the Hornets have to match the offer or lose Bridges.
After a season in which he averaged 20.2 points and seven rebounds per game, the Hornets have found a real gem in Bridges. After adjusting to the roster turmoil in Charlotte, he’s emerged as a hot commodity this offseason. The Hornets should be prepared to spend big to retain this young point guard. In the end, he’ll be worth every penny.