The “I forgot they played for Charlotte” all-time starting lineup

Every NBA team has a few of those players who you forgot were on the roster or that you didn’t even know about. The Charlotte Hornets are no exception. Let’s look at the most notable ones and assemble a starting five from them.

With as many players as the Charlotte Hornets have had over the years, it can be easy to forget some of the odder members that have worn a Charlotte jersey. Whether they were just passing through on to other teams or finishing out their careers in the Queen City, the club has seen some weird or puzzling additions.

In fact, there are enough from which we can assemble a decent starting lineup and honestly, if every one of these players was in their prime, I think they’d be a formidable squad. Without further ado, let’s take a look at our five players.

Some unexpected names have worn a Charlotte uniform, including some Hall of Famers.

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Point Guard – Earl Boykins

Did you know that Charlotte has had the two shortest players to ever play in the NBA on their roster? Muggsy Bogues, at 5’3″, obviously needs no introduction, but Boykins, who was just two inches taller, played for the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2007-2008 season.

Mostly known for his play as a Denver Nugget, Boykins was in the twilight of his carer at this point. The little guy still put up 5 points a night for the young Bobcats.

Shooting Guard- Steve Smith

One of the league’s better shooters of his day, the long-time Atlanta Hawk was a member of the Bobcats for their inaugural season back in 2004-2005.

The then 35-year-old, however, was well past his prime, but still contributed and even started a game. The one-time All-Star and NBA Champion scored almost 8 points a night in 37 games for the fledgling franchise.

Small Forward – Juwan Howard

Another former All-Star, Juwan Howard was also an aging vet for the Bobcats in 2007-2008, and as such, didn’t play much. A former teammate of Michael Jordan on the Washington Wizards, Howard was mainly brought in for his leadership and mentoring ability for the younger players.

He would stick around in the league for a few more years, eventually winning two titles with the Miami Heat. Howard is also a cousin of current Charlotte Hornet, Jalen McDaniels.

Power Forward – Tyson Chandler

This one is odd for two reasons. One, it’s Tyson Chandler, who is easily one of the best defensive bigs of the last two decades. Secondly, he played for both the Hornets and Bobcats, having played in Charlotte during the 2009-2010 season after being in New Orleans and Oklahoma City the previous three seasons.

He averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds a contest while starting 27 games. Chandler would be part of the championship-winning Dallas Mavericks a year later.

Center – Robert Parish

Affectionately known as “The Chief,” Parish is a certified Hall of Famer, a 9-time All-Star, and a 4-time NBA Champion. Of course, that was all with the Boston Celtics (and the 1996-1997 Chicago Bulls), but he did spend two years in Charlotte during the mid-90s, playing limited minutes. Still, as a Hall of Fame player, he’s gotta get the starting nod.

There have been a few other odd additions over the years, but these are probably the most well-known that many remain unaware of or simply don’t remember. At some point, there will be more on the roster, but for now, these are the most significant.