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Charlotte Hornets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Hornets

By Phil Watson

Jan 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; General view of the court during the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets won 97-84. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; General view of the court during the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets won 97-84. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets is boxed out by Emeka Okafor #50 of the Charlotte Bobcats during the game on November 11, 2008 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Nuggets won 88-80. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets is boxed out by Emeka Okafor #50 of the Charlotte Bobcats during the game on November 11, 2008 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Nuggets won 88-80. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

170. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 2nd overall pick from Connecticut, 2004 NBA Draft.. PF-C. 2004-09. Emeka Okafor. 13. player

Entering their expansion season, the Charlotte Bobcats went big in the draft, selecting Connecticut All-American Emeka Okafor, who had earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors while leading the Huskies to a national title.

Okafor got off to a solid start in the NBA, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2004-05 while finishing fourth in the league in rebounding. He was fourth in blocks in 2006-07 and finished fifth in rebounding in 2008-09.

Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler /

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In five seasons in Charlotte, Okafor averaged 14.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34 minutes per game, shooting .506/0-for-1/.596.

He was third in the NBA in field goal percentage in 2010-11 for New Orleans.

In June 2012, he was traded to the Washington Wizards and in October 2013, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns.

Okafor missed the entire 2013-14 season with a neck injury and went unsigned in the summer of 2014.

Despite not playing in the last three seasons, Okafor has not retired.

He is 46th in NBA history with an average of 9.9 rebounds per game and 42nd with an average of 1.7 blocks per game.

Next: 1st Expansion Pick Hung Around For A Decade

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