Their ’90s Starter jackets were the ultimate NBA fashion statement and Larry Johnson matched that flashy style on the court, but it’s been nothing but mediocrity for the team in the 21st century, since reconstituting as the Bobcats.
FEATURED LISTS
The name game: 13 current NBA franchises that have changed names
Heading on down the highway: 14 current NBA franchises that have re-located
Costs of being the boss: 13 Hall of Fame players who struggled as coaches
Hardwood ceiling: 25 memorable team eras that didn’t include an NBA Finals appearance
The people have spoken: 15 NBA team names that were (at least partially) decided by fan voting
index
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- Bernie Bickerstaff and Rod Higgins tenures as general manager
- Dave Cowens tenure as coach
- Expansion draft picks (1988)
- Expansion draft picks (as Bobcats, 2004)
- Name change from Bobcats to Hornets
- Name etymology
- Re-alignment from Eastern Conference to Western Conference, then back to Eastern Conference
FULL archive
Foundational pieces: 30 notable NBA expansion draft picks
Utilized to seed the roster of new franchises, expansion drafts have been staged 11 times in NBA history, starting with the Chicago Packers in 1961 and most recently with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. These are the most notable selections in expansion draft history, from flops to revivals to impending franchise cornerstones.
All over the map: Eight times that the NBA realigned teams across conferences
Due to expansion and relocations, the NBA has been forced to realign conferences multiple times since 1970, sometimes to confusing ends.
The name game: 13 current NBA franchises that have changed names
Some do it because they’ve moved, some do it just to re-brand, and others have more questionable motives. These are the 13 NBA teams out of the current 30 that have, at some point, changed names.
Heading on down the highway: 14 current NBA franchises that have re-located
The Warriors are returning to San Francisco after 48 years across the Bay in Oakland, but it’s not the first time this franchise his picked up and moved. We examine them and 13 other active teams that have changed cities during their time in the NBA and ABA.
Second acts: 22 franchise legends who ended their career with a brief stop on an unfamiliar team
The star players on this list are indelibly linked with a single franchise where they built their legend, but closed out their career looking not-quite-right in a different jersey.
Pressure valves: 23 NBA rookies who made a major impact in the postseason
Some were superstars just continuing their domination while others were unheralded players stepping up at just the right time but either way, when the lights were turned up high and the pressure was cranked up, these NBA rookies came through in the playoffs.
Oh, the humanity!: Ranking the 30 NBA franchises by torture level of their fans
As the NBA exits its yearly All-Star break, we take stock of the fan bases by ranking them from happiest to most tortured.
Missed connections: 19 blockbuster NBA trades that almost happened but fell through
Some of the greatest “what if” scenarios in NBA history have been trades that were rumored, agreed to in principle, and maybe even finalized then vetoed, but never happened. Here, we detail 19 of them that would have certainly changed the destiny of the franchises involved, if not the entire league.
Costs of being the boss: 13 Hall of Fame players who struggled as coaches
With their playing career often fueled by singular talent and ruthless competitiveness, these legendary players found those traits to be mostly a deterrent in their subsequent attempts at coaching in the NBA.
Hardwood ceiling: 25 memorable team eras that didn’t include an NBA Finals appearance
Proving that titles aren’t necessarily everything for basketball fans, these are the most talented, successful, beloved, and otherwise notable team eras of all time that never reached the NBA Finals.
Second in the draft, first in our hearts: 21 greatest second overall picks in the NBA Draft
The best players don’t always go #1, and sometimes the overlooked guys picked #2 have the last laugh. Here is a list of the 22 second overall picks who had the best NBA careers.
The people have spoken: 15 NBA team names that were (at least partially) decided by fan voting
In the grand American tradition of presidents, senators, Dancing with the Stars winners, and M&M colors, many NBA teams have given power to the people to determine their name via voting and/or contests.