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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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Apr 10, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards center Nene (42) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 113-98. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards center Nene (42) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 113-98. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

7. player. 170. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, July 10, 2013.. C. 2013-16. Al Jefferson

The Charlotte Bobcats didn’t land big-time free agents.

At least they didn’t until getting Al Jefferson‘s signature on a three-year, $40.5 million contract in July 2013.

CHA_07_JEFFERSON
CHA_07_JEFFERSON /

Jefferson brought a low-post presence on the offensive end that Charlotte hadn’t had in a long time. He earned All-NBA honors in 2013-14, putting up a 20-10 double-double per game and leading the Bobcats to the playoffs for just the second time since the return of the NBA to the city.

But his health took a turn for the worse when the team re-branded itself the Hornets in 2014. A strained groin and right knee soreness cost Jefferson 17 games in 2014-15 and last season, he appeared in just 47 games because of a strained calf and, later, a torn meniscus.

Working mostly as a reserve in 2015-16, Jefferson averaged 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game, shooting .485/—/.649.

On July 8, 2016, he signed a three-year, $30 million free-agent deal with the Indiana Pacers.

In three seasons in Charlotte, Jefferson averaged 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game on .495/.250/.671 shooting.

A McDonald’s All-American at Prentiss (Miss.) High School, Jefferson had initially committed to attend Arkansas before opting to head straight to the NBA.

He was the 15th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA Draft and was a second team All-Rookie selection in 2004-05.

In July 2007, Jefferson was part of the package the Celtics sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves to land former MVP Kevin Garnett.

With Minnesota, Jefferson was fifth in the NBA in rebounding in 2007-08, but missed 32 games in 2008-09 after tearing his ACL.

He was traded to the Utah Jazz in July 2010 and spent three seasons there before joining the Bobcats.

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