Three professional basketball teams have called Charlotte home.  They are the Carolina Cougars (1969-1974), the Charlotte Hornets (1988-2002), and the Charlotte Bobcats (2004-present).  The Carolina Cougars played roughly a third of their season's home games in Charlotte from 1969 to 1974.

During the 1969-1970 season, Doug Moe and Bob Verga became Charlotte’s first All-Stars.  Doug Moe, a 6’5" guard/forward, played for the Cougars for one season and served as assistant coach to Larry Brown for the Cougars from 1972 to 1974.  Bob Verga, a 6’1" guard, played two seasons for the Cougars.  During the 1969-70 season he was second in the league in scoring with 27.5 points per game.

The next season the Carolina Cougars hosted the ABA All-Star game at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Pogo Joe Caldwell, a 6’ 5" guard/forward, played for the Cougars from 1970 to 1974.  He started the 1970-1971 All-Star game and led the East squad with 21 points.  He is one of a few players to have been named an All-Star in both the ABA and the NBA.

For the 1971-1972 season, Jim McDaniels represented the Cougars at the All-Star game.  McDaniels, a 6’11" center, was averaging 26.8 points and 14 rebounds a game in 1972 when he quit the team to sign with Seattle of the NBA.  During the All-Star game he pulled down 11 rebounds and led the team with 24 points.

The Cougars boasted three All-Stars at the 1972-1973 venue, Joe Caldwell, Mack Calvin, and Billy Cunningham.  The Cougar’s coach, Larry Brown, coached the ABA East team.  Mack Calvin, a 6’0" guard, and Billy Cunningham, a 6’6" forward, were Cougars for two seasons.  During the 1972-1973 season, Cunningham averaged 24.1 points, 12 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game for the Cougars.   He finished fourth in the league in scoring, led the league in steals, was fifth in rebounds, third in assists, and was named the MVP of the ABA.

During the 1973-1974, Mack Calvin and Ted "Hound Dog" McClain were the Cougar’s All-Stars.  Mack led the NBA in free throws made during the 1973-1974 season.  Ted McClain, a 6’1" defensive minded guard, was playing his third season for the Cougars.  McClain led the ABA in steals during this season.  

The Charlotte Hornets did not have an All-Star selection during their first five years as a franchise.  However, the team hosted the 1991 All-Star game at the Charlotte Coliseum.

During the 1992-1993 season, the Charlotte Hornets boasted their first All-Star when Larry Johnson  was selected as a starter.  Johnson, a 6’6" forward, was named rookie of the year the previous season.  During the 1992-1993 season, he averaged 22.1 points per game while leading the NBA in minutes played.  He finished 7th in the league in rebounds. 

For the 1994-1995 season, Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning represented the Hornets at the All-Star game. Alonzo Mourning, a 6’10" center, ranked 5th in the league in blocked shots, 3rd in free throws made, and 9th in defensive rebounds.

Glen Rice represented the Hornets at the All-Star game during next three seasons.  Rice, a 6’7" forward, had scoring averages of 21.6, 26.8, and 22.3 during his three years with the Hornets.  He was named MVP of the 1996-1997 All-Star game after scoring 26 points.  During the 1996-1997 season, Glen Rice finished third in the league in points per game (26.8) behind Michael Jordan and Karl Malone.  He led the league in three point field goal percentage (47 percent), and finished third in three pointers made.

During the 1999-2000 season, Charlotte Hornet, Eddie Jones was named an All-Star.  Eddie Jones, a 6’6" guard/forward, averaged 20.1 points a game and led the league in steals during the 1999-2000 season.  He finished 10th in 3 point shots made.

During the Hornets final season in 2001-2002, Baron Davis was selected as an All-Star.  Baron Davis, a 6’3’ guard, ranked 2nd in steals, 4th in assists, and 6th in 3 point field goals made.

Charlotte will again be represented in the All-Star game during the 2009-2010 season, when Gerald Wallace takes the court on Sunday, February 14.  He will also represent the Charlotte Bobcats in the slam dunk competition on Friday February 12.  Wallace, a 6’ 8" forward, currently ranks 1st in the league in minutes played and 7th in rebounds.  If there was a category that measured the awe factor of in-game dunks and blocked shots this season, Gerald Wallace would certainly find his name at the top of the list.

A salute to Gerald Wallace.  2010 All-Star for the Charlotte Bobcats.

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