Charlotte Hornets: 20 greatest player seasons in franchise history
By John Buhler
20. P.J. Brown, 2000-01
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 9.3 RPG, 8.5 PPG, 1.6 APG, 1.2 BPG, 1.0 SPG
- 4.7 Defensive Win Shares, 2.8 Defensive Box Plus/Minus
- 8.0 Win Shares, 2.5 Value Over Replacement Player
P.J. Brown spent 15 seasons in the NBA out of Louisiana Tech. Originally a second-round pick by the then-New Jersey Nets in the 1992 NBA Draft, Brown would carve out a solid NBA career primarily with the Miami Heat and the Hornets as a sound defensive-minded big man.
After having spent the previous four seasons as a member of the Heat, Brown would join Charlotte in 2000 via a trade with Miami that sent wing Eddie Jones and big man Anthony Mason to South Beach ahead of the season.
Brown spent the next six seasons with the Hornets, split between Charlotte (2000-02) and New Orleans (2002-06). He played one year with the Chicago Bulls in 2006-07 before retiring an NBA Champion as member of the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.
But what made Brown’s 2000-01 NBA season with the Hornets so special besides it being his first in the Queen City? Well, he made the All-Defensive Second Team, making that his third such honor of his career. The previous two came with the Heat in 1996-97 and 1998-99.
Brown may have had more rebounds per game (9.3) than he did points (8.5) in 2000-01, but his value on the defensive end of the floor grades out as one of the five best defensive seasons in Charlotte professional hoops history.
He averaged 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game with the Hornets, helping him amass 4.7 defensive wins shares. This led to him having a 2.8 defensive box plus/minus, 8.0 win shares and a 2.5 value over replacement player that season.
Overall, Brown had three more solid years with the Hornets before exiting his lengthy prime as a professional. However, this year being slightly more lopsided in terms of defense over offense makes it stand out more.
No, this was not Brown’s best season of his career. His two All-Defensive campaigns while with the Heat certainly standout. This was also not Brown’s best year as a Hornet. However, his impressive 2002-03 campaign came while the franchise was in New Orleans. That being said, this is Brown’s best season playing for Charlotte, and a strong enough one to merit inclusion on this all-time list at No. 20.