<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">November 5 Was the new franchise worth the $265 million the city is paying for the team's new arena? Figuring that out starts here when the Bobcats christen their new home, against Boston. November 9 Here's a tough way for the Bobcats' frontcourt to start the second week of the season -- Emeka Okafor and rookie Sean May going against Tim Duncan and the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. November 11 Two Joshes with local ties arrive in Charlotte with the Dallas Mavericks -- former Wake Forest star Josh Howard and former N.C. State forward Josh Powell. Powell went undrafted in the 2003 NBA Draft but earned a two-year deal this summer. November 23 Larry Brown, a former company man under Dean Smith at UNC, visits Charlotte for the first time as the New York Knicks' head coach. The Bobcats went 1-2 against New York last season, losing twice by a total of four points. December 13 The Denver Nuggets arrive with Carmelo Anthony and rookie Julius Hodge, the former N.C. State standout. December 28 This one revisits last season's NBA rookie of the year race between Okafor, who won the award, and Chicago's Ben Gordon. Not enough? ACC rivalries will be rekindled when Chicago's Luol Deng and Chris Duhon, both of Duke, face old UNC foes in Felton and May. January 16 This is the "Welcome Back, Kotter" Game -- your dreams were your ticket out -- for New Orleans rookie Chris Paul, who starred at Wake Forest for two seasons, and team owner George Shinn, who took the Hornets out of Charlotte and to New Orleans in 2002. January 27 A big NBA star comes to Charlotte with help from a talented teammate. That would be Miami guard Dwyane Wade and center Shaquille O'Neal. Yes, in that order. January 30 The No-Age Limit Game against Cleveland. FYI, third-year NBA veteran LeBron James, who turns 21 on Dec. 30, is younger than Charlotte rookies Felton and May, who are both 21. February 1 Atlanta rookie Marvin Williams faces former North Carolina teammates Felton and May in a battle that may help answer the question, "Was one of us a reach on NBA Draft night?" April 4 Rookie Rashad McCants, another former UNC star, returns to North Carolina with Minnesota Timberwolves teammate and NBA star Kevin Garnett.</div> Source
