Swarm and Sting
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Charlotte Hornets: 15 greatest draft picks in franchise history

By Jerry Stephens

Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets 2017 NBA Draft (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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27 Apr 2001: Baron Davis #1 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates during the first half against the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the First Round NBA Playoffs at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. <> Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones/ALLSPORT NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.
27 Apr 2001: Baron Davis #1 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates during the first half against the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the First Round NBA Playoffs at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. <> Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones/ALLSPORT NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs. /

The Hornets selected Baron Davis third overall in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft just after Elton Brand and Steve Francis. Although he spent 13 years in the NBA, only three of them were in Charlotte. He played in all 246 regular season games for the Hornets during his three seasons with the team.

After coming off the bench in his rookie season, B-Diddy grabbed the starting point guard spot in his sophomore year and never looked back. Davis put up 12.6 points, 6.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game over three years. His best season was his third year when he averaged 18.1 points and 8.5 assists per game.

Baron is one of only six Charlotte players to ever make an All-Star Game. He ranks fifth all-time in assists in team history and seventh in steals. The Hornets made the playoffs in all three years that Davis was with the team and made it to two conference finals (one where they lost in seven games to the Milwaukee Bucks).

Unfortunately, his time in Charlotte was cut short as the team moved to New Orleans prior to the 2002-03 season. Baron spent two more years with the Hornets before playing for the Golden State Warriors (2004-08), the Los Angeles Clippers (2008-10), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2010-11) and the New York Knicks (2011-12). Davis actually attempted an NBA comeback in 2015-16 when he joined the Delaware 87ers of the NBA G-League.