NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Charlotte Hornets history: Kenny Gattison

Torn ligaments and cartilage in his left knee

Kenny Gattison got his start with the Phoenix Suns during the 1986-87 season, but a blown-out left knee quickly derailed what looked like a promising career for him. He averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a rookie with the Suns, but missed the entire 1987-88 season due to his knee injury.

After the 1988-89 season and just two appearances, Gattison was waived by the Suns. He was signed as a free agent by the Charlotte Hornets prior to the 1989-90 season and surprisingly waived on Oct. 19, 1989 before being re-signed as a free agent on Dec. 2.

Gattison got his groove back with the Hornets, improving in each season. By his third year with the team, he was averaging a career-high 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds along with 1.6 assists per game.

He never matched his career-high of 29 points, marked with the Suns back as a rookie, but he did manage to score a season-best 24 points with the Hornets during 1991-92. He racked up a career-high 13 double-doubles and had a career-best 11 games with 20 points or more while appearing in all 82 games and making 71 starts.

The arrival of Alonzo Mourning in 1992-93 season changed his role dramatically as time went on, but it wasn’t hard to deny his own personal comeback. Gattison produced 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in six seasons with the Hornets. Following the 1994-95 season, he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies, where he played with his final NBA team.