![Kemba Walker has been an All-Star each of the last three seasons. [Image Source: Flickr | Jon Edwards]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/5/31/660x290/b_502x220x82/kemba-walker-has-been-an-all-star-each-of-the-last-three-seasons-image-source-flickr-jon-edwards_2273183.jpg "Kemba Walker has been an All-Star each of the last three seasons. [Image Source: Flickr | Jon Edwards]")
The Charlotte Hornets’ franchise history consists of a few different periods. They became an expansion team in 1988 and stayed in Charlotte until 2002 (moved to New Orleans). Charlotte was granted another franchise in 2004 which were known as the Bobcats. In 2014, the Charlotte franchise once again became known as the Hornets.
So when looking at their top-10 draft picks in franchise history, that includes all players drafted from 1988-2001 (original Charlotte Hornets), 2004-2014 (Charlotte Bobcats), and the present-day Charlotte Hornets. Therefore, players on this list who also played for the New Orleans Hornets will not have their time in New Orleans accounted for.
As a subjective list, it can easily be debated who belongs on the list and where they should go. In order to make the list, the player actually had to be drafted by the Hornets. Only their impact with Charlotte is considered (while Tobias Harris was drafted by the Hornets, he’s never played for them). It’s also not exactly a top-10 players drafted by the Hornets list, as where the player was drafted could influence where they ended up on the list (a 30th overall pick who had nearly as much impact as a fifth overall pick will be higher on the list). All of Charlotte’s draft choices were taken from Basketball Reference.
Kemba Walker - 1st round, 9th overall (2011)
An All-Star each of the past three seasons, Walker averaged a career-best 25.6 points per contest in 2018-19. As mentioned by CBS Sports, he recently said that Charlotte will be his first priority as he becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Larry Johnson - 1st round, 1st overall (1991)
An All-Star twice in his five seasons with Charlotte, Johnson also won Rookie of the Year and was a Second Team All-NBA member in 1992-93.
Alonzo Mourning - 1st round, 2nd overall (1992)
While he played just three seasons for the Hornets, Mourning was named an All-Star twice and had impressive averages of 21.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks with the franchise.
Baron Davis - 1st round, 3rd overall (1999)
Davis was an All-Star in his last of three seasons with Charlotte (also played with New Orleans) when his all-around game helped him average 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 2.1 steals.
Emeka Okafor - 1st round, 2nd overall (2004)
The 2004-05 Rookie of the Year, Okafor averaged a double-double in points and rebounds in all five of his seasons playing for Charlotte.
Raymond Felton - 1st round, 5th overall (2005)
Felton was the starting point guard 369 times in his five seasons with Charlotte, and he ranks third in franchise history with 2,573 assists.
Kendall Gill - 1st round, 5th overall (1990)
In 266 games (218 starts) with the Hornets, Gill posted impressive averages of 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Gerald Henderson - 1st round, 12th overall (2009)
Playing six seasons with Charlotte, Henderson ranks ninth in franchise history scoring 4,701 points.
Rex Chapman - 1st round, 8th overall (1988)
Chapman played three full seasons (and part of a fourth) with the Hornets, and his best year came in 1989-90 when he averaged 17.5 points an outing.
D.J. Augustin - 1st round, 9th overall (2008)
A reserve in much of his first two seasons with Charlotte, Augustin got an opportunity to be the full-time starter in the following two years in which he averaged 13.2 points and 6.2 assists.
