Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Top 5 Centers in Charlotte Hornets history

By Evan Birchmore

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1992: Alonzo Mourning #33 of the Charlotte Hornets grabs a rebound against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Mourning played for the Hornets from 1992-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1992: Alonzo Mourning #33 of the Charlotte Hornets grabs a rebound against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Mourning played for the Hornets from 1992-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – CIRCA 1992: Alonzo Mourning #33 of the Charlotte Hornets grabs a rebound against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Mourning played for the Hornets from 1992-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1992: Alonzo Mourning #33 of the Charlotte Hornets grabs a rebound against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Mourning played for the Hornets from 1992-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Alonzo Mourning (1992-1995)

Selected second overall by the Hornets in the 1992 NBA draft, Alonzo Mourning became a force at the center position during his time in Charlotte. His rookie year numbers of 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks led to Mourning being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and helped lead Charlotte to their first playoff appearance in franchise history.

The next two seasons both led to Mourning being named an NBA All-Star as he led the Hornets in scoring, rebounding, and blocks in both seasons. His strong performance in 1994-95 helped the Hornets to their first 50-win season in franchise history and the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, Charlotte would match up with a Chicago Bulls team that had been bolstered by the return of Michael Jordan from his first retirement. Charlotte would fall to Chicago in four games, which proved to be the Mourning’s final games with the team.

After turning down a contract offer from the Hornets, Mourning was dealt to the Miami Heat ahead of the 1995-96 season. He would play until the end of the 2007-08 season and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. He is one of three Hornets players to have mad the Hall of Fame, alongside Robert Parish and Vlade Divac.

Including 13 playoffs games, Mourning averaged 21.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 113 games for the Hornets.