The New Orleans Hornets were founded in 1988 as the Charlotte Hornets. The team became the New Orleans Hornets when they relocated to New Orleans in 2002. The Hornets have qualified twelve times for the post season but their greatest achievement to date is winning a Divisional title. The greatest players of All-Time for the franchise are Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice, Chris Paul and Baron Davis. The greatest Hornets of All-Time are Baron Davis, Larry Johnson and Chris Paul.
No. 1: Baron Davis (1999 - 2005)
Baron Davis managed to carry the Hornets to the playoffs on a consistent basis although their actual success in the playoffs has been very limited. Hornet's fans will remember Davis greatly for his play against the Orlando Magic in the playoffs. In the series he average 22.6 points, 7.9 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game. He is a two time NBA All-Star and All-NBA selection for the Hornets. He initially began his career with the Hornets as a reserve, but it wasn't long before he became the center-piece of the franchise.
No. 2: Larry Johnson (1991 - 1996)
Fans would pay any amount of money to see Larry Johnson play the game of basketball. He became one of the first true stars of the Hornet's franchise and his impact is still relevant today. Larry Johnson was the Rookie of the Year in 1992. He was a two time All-Star and an All-NBA selection in 1993. In his best season with the Hornets, he averaged 22.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Johnson was a phenomenal power forward who captured the fans attention from the first time he stepped on the floor for the Hornets.
No. 1 Chris Paul (2005 - 2011)
Chris Paul is a high caliber point guard who has developed a multi-dimensional game that puts him above everyone else. At any point, Chris Paul is able to change the direction of a game. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is a four time All-Star, two time NBA All-Defensive team selection and two time All-NBA selection. His numbers as it relates to points, assists and steals are rivaled to the best in the game's history and in the current NBA. He became the face of the franchise, but Paul would be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the 2011-12 season.
The Hornets have not been afforded the luxury of many great players in their history, and it's likely the reason they have failed to make a deep playoff run. It is without question that Chris Paul is easily the best player to ever play for the franchise.
