Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Top 5 Shooting Guards in Charlotte Hornets history

By Evan Birchmore

Charlotte Hornets Dell Curry. Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
Charlotte Hornets Dell Curry. Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 12: Rex Chapman attends “The Bold Jump To Streaming News” during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 12, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dave Pedley/Getty Images for SXSW)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 12: Rex Chapman attends “The Bold Jump To Streaming News” during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 12, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dave Pedley/Getty Images for SXSW) /

Rex Chapman (1988-1992)

When he was selected with the 8th pick in the 1988 NBA draft, Rex Chapman entered Hornets lore as the first player ever drafted by the franchise. He responded well in his rookie campaign, posting 16.9 points per game, which still stands as the highest in franchise history for any rookie guard and the third-highest overall. He was rewarded for his efforts with an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection.

Chapman competed in the 1990 and 1991 versions of the Slam Dunk Contest, the latter being held in Charlotte at the Charlotte Coliseum.

In his three fully healthy seasons in Charlotte (1988-89 through 1990-91), Chapman was a top-three scorer for the Hornets. He scored the second-most cumulative points in those years behind only Kelly Tripucka.

Chapman would unfortunately suffer injuries the next season and was eventually traded to the Washington Bullets in February of 1992.

For his Hornets career, Chapman finished with averages of 16.2 points, 2.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 220 games.