Gerald Wallace
“Crash” sneaks in as the only professional before he was drafted. While not a Charlotte Hornets player, he was a part of the Charlotte Bobcats’ expansion draft. He had three largely unremarkable seasons with the Sacramento Kings, he started a total of nine games and never averaged more than five points in any individual season. He eclipsed both numbers in his first year as a Bobcat. His hard-charging and physical game earned Wallace the nickname of Crash.
Wallace’s athleticism and motor made him a fan favorite when there weren’t many fans in the first place. The 6’7 220-pound wing was an exceptional defender, earning All-defense first-team honors in 2010. That same year he became an All-star, the only All-Star in the Charlotte Bobcats era. There’s a good reason some people what his jersey retired. He was a lone bright spot in a dark time for professional basketball in Queen City.