When you think of the Hornets, who do you think of? Baron Davis? Check. Jamal Mashburn? Check. Jamaal Magloire? Check. P.J. Brown? Check. But how about David Wesley? Most Hornets fans and non-fans alike don't think much about Wesley, saying he's too small, too slow, not a good enough shooter, etc., etc. But Wesley has proven his worth to the team time and time again, as evidenced by the fact that he has the longest tenure with the Hornets of any current player. He outdistances 2nd place Baron Davis by a good two years. But that's not all that Wesley has, and its just as well, since 'longevity does not a great player make'. Not only has Wesley outlasted three coaches(Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, Tim Floyd), and made more playoff appearances with the Hornets than any other player in franchise history, but he is also one of the best point guards and one of the best shooting guards in team history. Among point guards, the only guys better are Muggsy Bogues, who Wesley replaced, and Davis, the man he groomed for the position. Wesley put up averages of 13.5 points and 6.1 assists through a three-season stretch which saw the Hornets have their 2nd best season-record in franchise history and make the playoffs twice, including a second round loss to eventual champion Chicago in '98. The competition among shooting guards is a little closer, but Wesley holds his own. He has recorded averages of 16.1 ppg and 3.7 apg over the past four years. The only off-guards in team history who can match him are Rex Chapman, Kendall Gill, Dell Curry and Eddie Jones, with the late Bobby Phills close behind him. Jones is perhaps the only one who was clearly better than Wesley, but Wesley's tenure has given him the edge of having won more with the Hornets, making the playoffs each year he's been the shooting guard. Overall, Wesley is in his seventh season with the Hornets, and has played in five of the eight Hornets' playoff appearances, including four straight from '00 to '03. He's also appeared in 3 of the team's 4 total second round series. His 7012 points rank third all-time in Hornets history behind Dell Curry and Larry Johnson, and his 2262 assists rank second all-time behind Bogues. Despite all of these accomplishments, Wesley is very underrated IMO. Of course, I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks about him and his career.
I was just talkin' to my boy about Wes the other day. He was askin' me who some unsung heros of NBA were..and David Wesley's name was first on my lips...this guys is reliable beyond belief...I've always loved his game..a great all around little player to whom the Hornets owe alot of their success...when I said his name tho' my boy said 'Who?'. Kinda sad that alot of the big name cats get most of the burn while the dudes that do their jobs day in and day out consistently and well are ignored by most of the media and fans at large. Dudes like Wesley is what the league is founded on and is what championships are built on and won with IMO.
The Hornets have many unsung heros on their team. PJ Brown, Wesley, George Lynch, Stacey Augmon and Darrell Armstrong. However, that speaks of their age. They should start rebuilding around Baron Davis and Jamaal Magloire.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting franchise3:</div><div class="quote_post">The Knicks have many unsung heros on their team. PJ Brown, Wesley, George Lynch, Stacey Augmon and Darrell Armstrong. However, that speaks of their age. They should start rebuilding around Baron Davis and Jamaal Magloire.</div> you mean the Hornets?
Wesley is a "heart and soul" guy for the Hornets, he's another one of those players who produces consistently, but does it without attracting attention. I remember when he broke in with New Jersey, he looked like a future starter for the Nets. Yet, despite averaging 3 points and 2 assists in 9 minutes per game (60), the Nets gave up on him. He went to Boston and looked great with the Celtics, then they let him walk. The Hornets have been the only team smart enough to recognize the contributions that Wes has brought to the franchise. He's not an NBA hall of famer, but he'll definitely be in the Hornets hall of fame when he decides to hang 'em up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Skip:</div><div class="quote_post">yo, is the Bombcats the name for the new Charlotte team? If so.... S_I_C_K name.</div> BOBcats. But I agree, Bombcats would sound sick, much sicker than the actual name. People in Charlotte are already calling them the 'Cats cuz it sounds better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OgShowtime:</div><div class="quote_post">I remember when he broke in with New Jersey, he looked like a future starter for the Nets. Yet, despite averaging 3 points and 2 assists in 9 minutes per game (60), the Nets gave up on him. He went to Boston and looked great with the Celtics, then they let him walk. </div> Yeah, I was really surprised that the Celtics didn't try to match the Hornets' offer. The void he left was one reason they went after Chauncey Billups with the highest draft pick they've had in over a decade. As for the Nets, I think they got so used to high quality point guards that they overlooked Wesley, to their loss. Wesley was third string pg on a team that started Kenny Anderson and had Chris Childs as a backup. I remember how much worth they placed in Childs, but they woulda been better off looking just down the bench. Now they've gone through Sam Cassell, Stephon Marbury, and finally they have Jason Kidd, their pg solution after a decade of searching. Wesley had more success than any of those guys except for Kidd while running the Hornets show until Baron got old enough to drive it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting starman85:</div><div class="quote_post">BOBcats. But I agree, Bombcats would sound sick, much sicker than the actual name. People in Charlotte are already calling them the 'Cats cuz it sounds better.</div> When they said they were callin' the team the Bobcats after the owner..I think it sounded kinda hokey myself LOL
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Black Widow:</div><div class="quote_post">When they said they were callin' the team the Bobcats after the owner..I think it sounded kinda hokey myself LOL</div> Straight up. I thought it was a joke at first. I personally liked 'the Jets', out of the last three choices. Dragons would have been too corny since we also have the Knights as a team, in baseball. Even something like Wildcats would have been better than the Bob variety, but I guess there are too many college teams with that nickname(Arizona, Kentucky).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting starman85:</div><div class="quote_post">Straight up. I thought it was a joke at first. I personally liked 'the Jets', out of the last three choices. Dragons would have been too corny since we also have the Knights as a team, in baseball. Even something like Wildcats would have been better than the Bob variety, but I guess there are too many college teams with that nickname(Arizona, Kentucky).</div> How did they name the team? Did they have a contest or did Johnson just say 'I'm the man and I'ma name the team after me."?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Black Widow:</div><div class="quote_post">How did they name the team? Did they have a contest or did Johnson just say 'I'm the man and I'ma name the team after me."?</div> I believe the fans chose it. I think something like a referendum was passed out to the citizens of Charlotte with possible names for the new team. I think the names were Bobcats, Dragons, and Flight. Personally, I didn't like any of them. Although I'd rather have chosen Flight as my team name. But I heard Bobcats was chosen so the cat theme would be kept in Charlotte like the Panthers in the NFL. Anyway, about Wesley... Saying this guy is what championships are built upon is a bit overrating him. Wesley has been key to the Hornet's success, but I see Wesley being a bit too undersized for SG position. However, when the Hornets moved him to SG, it was a much better fit for him. I thought Wesley made a much better SG than he did PG. Wesley is also a great shooter but he hasn't been very consistent over his career. Davis and Wesley make up one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA. Both are great perimeter defenders because of their speed and quickness. They have quick hands and can burst into the passing lanes creating fastbreak opportunities.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe the fans chose it. I think something like a referendum was passed out to the citizens of Charlotte with possible names for the new team. I think the names were Bobcats, Dragons, and Flight. Personally, I didn't like any of them. Although I'd rather have chosen Flight as my team name. But I heard Bobcats was chosen so the cat theme would be kept in Charlotte like the Panthers in the NFL. Anyway, about Wesley... Saying this guy is what championships are built upon is a bit overrating him. Wesley has been key to the Hornet's success, but I see Wesley being a bit too undersized for SG position. However, when the Hornets moved him to SG, it was a much better fit for him. I thought Wesley made a much better SG than he did PG. Wesley is also a great shooter but he hasn't been very consistent over his career. Davis and Wesley make up one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA. Both are great perimeter defenders because of their speed and quickness. They have quick hands and can burst into the passing lanes creating fastbreak opportunities.</div> Championships are built on the workman like players who do their jobs and are consitent. Guys like Wesley are paramount to a title. You have to have a superstar or two,BUT you also need some cats that fill in the holes and stay consistent. They are the glue that holds a team together.
I heard something about the "Spiders" as a possible team name that was being floated around early on, I kinda liked that one. Cats are cool though, there aren't any other teams named after cats in the pros, so it's basic, but original. Like the Sonics or the Blazers, I doubt anyone will ever call them the Bob-cats.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OgShowtime:</div><div class="quote_post"> Like the Sonics or the Blazers, I doubt anyone will ever call them the Bob-cats.</div> Yeah, and the Knicks. I think that when the three choices(Triple Dubble had them right) were made from all the suggestions, Johnson probably liked Bob-cats better than just Cats because he too knew that they'd be known by the shorter name, and that he'd get his name slipped in there for fun.
