Top 5 Hornets Memories

[Hornets247 Staff]

James Grayson-- Hornets247.com

I can’t think of a more exciting and sad moment in my sports fan life than right now. The New Orleans Hornets will no longer exist and the New Orleans Pelicans will be the replacement. It’s strange for so many reasons, but the main of which is connection.

A connection to a basketball team is much more than just its players. It’s the brand, logo, colours and most of all it’s moments. This is why reflecting back on the Hornets memories is so nostalgic. It’s a connection we’ve had for a significant part of our lives and we don’t want to forget that.

While this list is subjective in nature, it is unique to every person. The intrinsic values of the fan and their life story will effect the perception of events in the past. With that, I take a look at what can be considered significant moments in the history of an iconic sports label, the Hornets.

5. Alonzo Mourning 20-footer to beat the Celtics

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I personally don’t remember this moment but it still sticks out as probably the first time the Hornets had a “Sportscenter” moment in professional basketball. Mourning received a pass with 3 seconds left on the clock, dribbled right and with the Celtics confused defensively drained the 20-foot jumpshot to win the game 104-103.

Mourning was humble in his view of the shot saying, “To tell you the truth, it was a lucky shot.”

From that point on the Hornets would hit many more “lucky shots” all of which were exciting. For me this sets the precedence as to why being a Hornets fan was so darn fun.

4. The Crescent City Connection & the Peja Heads

The CCC and Peja Heads were a quintessential part of Hornet games a few years ago. It gave you a warm fuzzy feeling and separated us from them. Tyson Chandler and Chris Paul were without a doubt two of the most in-sync players in the entire league from 2007 through till 2009. Paul had eyes in the back of his head, knew exactly when Chandler was rolling, where he was rolling to and exactly how high he needed the ball to be placed.

It was one of the most picturesque sights in professional sports when two athletes work together as one; true beauty.
The Peja heads were a hilarious now antiquated relic of the past. Every time the Hornets were on a fast break they’d kick the ball out to Peja and as the crowd rose a collective gasp would give way to a chorus of “Yeah!”

Peja and his handsomely lovely haircut would the hover below the TV screen and you’d be satistified with the outcome. It was fun, it was silly, it was childish. It’s why we love the NBA and it’s why we loved the Hornets.

3. Chris Paul & David West in Game 5 in 2008 playoffs vs. Spurs

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One of my fondest memories of my entire fandom was when Chris Paul and David West dominated the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs in 2008. There was no stopping them; they were just in a zone like I’ve never seen them before.

Chris Paul was finding his team-mates, stealing the ball and scoring at will. It was a time when Paul could get to any spot on the floor. It didn’t matter what you did defensively he was going to get there. He had the ball on* a string. He danced and weaved his magic to finish with 22 points and 14 assists.

David West, my favourite NBA player, had arguably his best game as a professional. West scored a ridiculous 38 points on 25 shots, had 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals. He was truly unstoppable.

Aside from the individual performances this was when I, like many others, believed the Hornets could actually win the NBA title. They demolished the Spurs. Their chemistry was undeniable and pretty darn scary.

New Orleans unfortunately went on to lose the series, but this was the starting point of our aspirations for the team. We had a foundation and an identify. It was the peak of something special.

2. Hornets win the NBA Lottery in 2012

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The lead up to the NBA lottery was kind of a casual one for me. I didn’t expect the Hornets to win the lottery, I thought it was one of those things that would go to a team seeded 7^th or 8^th and somehow they’d scooch into the top spot.

When Cleveland was announced as the 4^th pick in the 2012 NBA draft I was estatic. Not because I thought we’d won the draft lottery, but because a top-3 pick was awesome enough. So when we actually won the thing I jumped around the room with glee and gave jubilant high fives to my Hornets compatriot “Carpo.”

This is a twitter timeline of the days events for me personally:

Top 3 pick baby
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Jsuisisjsksosnsjsj
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Shjsjksksjdjfj
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

We ****ig did it!!!!!!!!!
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Jon Barry predicted this!!! My man
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

For those Hornets fans still up, we should all thank @marcobelinelli for making that layup against the Warriors.
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Watching the draft lottery over and over.
— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) June 1, 2012

I know it seems like a lost my marbles that day, but who didn’t? The future seemed bright then and seems brighter now. It was so awesome.

1. Tom Benson Buys the Hornets

The top spot belongs to Tom Benson. For years the Hornets went through uncertainty as to whether they’d remain in New Orleans. I wanted the team to remain in the city for obvious reasons (probably the best city in the country).
When Benson stepped up it was now certain that the organisation would remain in New Orleans.

While it’s not a uniquely “Hornets” moment, it’s one that everyone is probably fond of. It also is a memory that will transition into the future. Something that meant something then and still does now.

The organisation still has a long way to go but stable ownership is a must in securing future success.

—

Now this may not be your list, but it certainly sums up my thoughts of the Hornets. While I only ever attended one Hornets game in my life I watched and loved from afar like many other fans. The history of this brand is extensive and not without its ups and downs. But like every NBA team it was fun and memorable.What are your top-5 memories of the Hornets? Tell in the comments below. You can follow James on Twitter on @jsgrayson

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[NOLa.]

That's a good list. One of my personal favorites which no one probably knows or remembers is big boy "Tractor" Taylor draining a 3 point shot attempt in the closing seconds of the last game of the 02-03 season. Was the year me and my friends at the time started watching them and we had already locked a playoff spot so the game was kind of meaningless. But Taylor was one of our favorites and when he made that chucked shot he looked surprise and we celebrated a winning season.

[speedyG]

CP3 buzzer beater

[FlyGirl]

5. David Wesley having a terrible game and putting up the game winner off of a Jamal Mashburn miss to win the game against Philly in Nov 2002. I was there for that and it was soooo much fun.

4. Chris Paul hitting the game winner against Indiana in an MLK matinee.

3. Just about everything about the 2007-08 season. (Team returning from OKC, winning the SW division, etc)

2. Winning the 2012 NBA Lottery

1. Tom Benson buying the team.

Honorable mention: David West's game winner against OKC. It was always a pleasure beating OKC.

[yankeesman77]

5. Glen Rice being named All-star MVP and lighting my heart on fire in 1997. Really growing up and appreciating this kind of performance at such a young age at the time (I was 7) made me want to shoot like Glen Rice and really become a fan of the Charlotte Hornets being from NY. This was my first exposure other than watching Michael Jordan torch the Knicks to the game that I would grow to love in the NBA. After seeing Glen put on a scoring performance of a lifetime at the time was eye opening and made me want to fall in love with this team from North Carolina.

4. Anthony Mason's Triple Double 2000 game against Toronto. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DmWmt5IE4 When healthy, Anthony Mason's body and grind gave this Charlotte squad a toughness that hadn't been seen at that time since the days of Zo and LJ. I loved Mason's game and how he could bully his way inside the paint. His skills as an interior passer also I found to be highly underrated. It's just a shame that injuries cut down his career. Also didn't help that by a few years later, he became immoveable for eating himself out of the NBA. Other great performances that could fall into this category include Mashburn's 50 points against Memphis in 03 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS2B_5wDU6U

3. The 07/08 Squad. Injuries, Injuries, Injuries. I could state that a million times over but this team was so fun to watch and honestly the best this team has ever trotted out to the floor. Peja (healthy) a deadly three point marksmen that came from an injury riddled season with Indy, came to find his role and his best benefit playing with a PG in his prime and the best PG in the game in Chris Paul. Chris's vision on the court helped to put this team into a prime position to win each and every night and there was no one that could guard the Pick & Roll he and Chandler helped to create on a nightly basis. This team did so much for an area that was looking for a winner. David West was also coming into his own and Mo Pete didn't exactly suck yet. Such a great team from such a long time ago. It feels like.

2. Tom Benson buys the Hornets. Would I have liked to have seen this team stay in New Orleans? Absolutely. But it wasn't the end all/be all for destroying my fandom of this team if they did happen to move to Seattle which would have been the likely scenario if this team hadn't meant this ridiculous attendance benchmark (Find an owner speak). I love this team and I always will. He's done so much for your Saints to build them into a winner and I'm excited to what he can lend his talents to this team as well. Benson is a foundation and an answer that keeps this team in a destination like Shinn wanted to do in Charlotte but nobody wanted to go to the games because this team stunk after Rice was traded and LJ went to the Knicks. Benson staying gave this team a home and a foundation to stay with this player that is a sign that a great future is never far away.

1. Anthony Davis is drafted with the #1 overall pick in 2012. Anthony Davis is such a young and gifted player and he's still growing! His athletic talents and length will lend itself to plenty of half court dunks on the give from our future PG (Not Grevis). This guy is so freaking talented and at the end of the day, will probably be the best player this franchise has ever seen next to Chris Paul. His defense and footwork will come along with the muscles he will grow in due time and his play will lead this franchise for many years to come.

Long live the Hornets!

Embrace New Orleans and the Pelicans.

[smcgull]

5. Win the NBA Lottery
4. 07/08 season
3. Drafting CP3
2. Drafting Anthony Davis
1. Team moving here

[UNO Gracias]

I was always fond of the game against the Lakers in 03-04 when the Lakers with Malone, Payton, Shaq, Kobe, Byron Russel, and Fisher came in to town riding an undefeated record, and hearing how unbeatable they were. They came to town to face Baron Davis, PJ Brown, David West, the Big Cat, and David Wesley. We were supposed to get blown out. We weren't even supposed to be on the same court with all these hall of famers.... then this happened.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=231107003

[Pelicans_fan_504]

Who remembers when Steve Smith almost carried us to a playoff series win against the heat when B Davis and Mash were hurt.