Swarm and Sting
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Top 5 Small Forwards in Charlotte Hornets history

By Evan Birchmore

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Teammates Stephen Jackson #1 and Gerald Wallace #3 of the Charlotte Bobcats celebrate after a 102-94 victory over the Houston Rockets at Time Warner Cable Arena on January 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Teammates Stephen Jackson #1 and Gerald Wallace #3 of the Charlotte Bobcats celebrate after a 102-94 victory over the Houston Rockets at Time Warner Cable Arena on January 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER,MD – JANUARY 30: Johnny Newman #22 of the Charlotte Hornets before a NBA basketball game against the Washington Bullets on January 30, 1993 at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER,MD – JANUARY 30: Johnny Newman #22 of the Charlotte Hornets before a NBA basketball game against the Washington Bullets on January 30, 1993 at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Johnny Newman (1990-1994)

In the 1990 offseason, the Hornets signed free agent forward Johnny Newman, who had helped lead the New York Knicks to three consecutive playoff appearances in the three previous years. Signing Newman was a major coup for a franchise that had only been in existence for two seasons at that point, and Newman delivered in his first season with the Hornets.

Newman averaged 16.9 points per night in the 1990-91 season, the best mark of his career and the second-best for Charlotte behind Armen Gilliam, who was limited to just 25 games that year.

His statistics would decline as other players such as Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Dell Curry, and Muggsy Bogues would emerge. However, Newman still played an important role for Charlotte and was a part of the 1993 team that secured the franchise’s first winning record, first playoff appearance, and first playoff series victory.

In December of 1993, Newman would be traded to the New Jersey Nets for Rumeal Robinson. He would play eight more seasons with five different franchises, ultimately retiring in 2002.

For his Hornets career, Newman averaged 14.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 227 games.