Charlotte Hornets History: The next stage of the team’s history will be judged by whether it can turn individual talent into a consistent winner, advance beyond the early playoff rounds, and ultimately compete for an NBA championship. Charlotte has the arena, the history, and the support to remain an important NBA market. The next challenge is establishing the winning tradition that has eluded the franchise. NBA report on the 2023 ownership change NBA franchise records and Hall of Fame listings Editorial note: The Hall of Fame section distinguishes players who appeared for Charlotte from those whose Hall of Fame induction was primarily based on their Hornets achievements. Awards and Legacy The Charlotte Hornets are one of the NBA’s most recognizable franchises, known for their distinctive teal and purple colors, passionate Carolina fan base, and exciting players. From the original team’s arrival in 1988 to the return of the Hornets name in 2014, the franchise has experienced remarkable popularity, ownership changes, memorable playoff runs, and the continuing pursuit of its first NBA championship. Although the Hornets have yet to reach the NBA Finals, their history includes outstanding players, Hall of Fame talent, memorable coaches, and one of the most recognizable identities in professional basketball. This article covers the franchise’s ownership, home arenas, Basketball Hall of Fame players who wore the Hornets uniform, NBA awards won as Hornets, and the people who have shaped its legacy. The Beginning of the Charlotte Hornets Charlotte joined the NBA as an expansion franchise for the 1988–89 season. Businessman George Shinn led the effort to bring professional basketball to Charlotte, North Carolina. The original Hornets quickly developed a loyal following. Their teal-and-purple identity, colorful uniforms, and exciting basketball helped make the team a major part of Charlotte’s sporting culture. The team’s early years included the development of young stars such as Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Muggsy Bogues. During the 1990s, the Hornets became a competitive playoff team and one of the NBA’s most popular young franchises. However, disputes over a new arena and the team’s relationship with the city eventually led to relocation. In 2002, the franchise moved to New Orleans, taking its basketball history with it. Charlotte received a replacement expansion franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, which began play in 2004. The Bobcats became the Charlotte Hornets again in 2014, restoring the name and much of the identity associated with the original team. The NBA’s franchise history therefore requires an important distinction: the original Hornets moved to New Orleans, while the present Charlotte franchise began as the Bobcats. All Charlotte Hornets and Bobcats Principal Owners. The ownership history reflects the franchise’s transition from its original expansion years to the Bobcats era and the present-day Hornets organization. Owner or ownership group Years Significance George Shinn 1988–2002 Founding owner of the original Charlotte Hornets. Robert L. Johnson 2002–2010 Founded the Charlotte Bobcats expansion franchise and became its first principal owner. Michael Jordan 2010–2023 Took majority control of the Bobcats in 2010 and oversaw the return of the Hornets name in 2014. Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall 2023–present Led the group that acquired majority control from Jordan in August 2023. Ray Wooldridge was also a significant partner in the original Hornets’ ownership during its later period. The modern ownership group includes additional investors, such as former minority investors and public figures J. Cole and Michael Jordan’s ownership was particularly historic: he became the first former NBA player to become the majority owner of an NBA franchise. His tenure also brought the Hornets name back to Charlotte, although the team did not win a playoff series during his majority-ownership era. In August 2023, the sale of the majority stake to the group led by Plotkin and Schnall was finalized. Jordan retained a minority investment. Plotkin and Schnall became co-chairmen of Hornets Sports & Entertainment, with the team’s governorship arranged to rotate between them. All Arenas Called Home by the Hornets The franchise has played its home games in two principal buildings in Charlotte, although the current arena has operated under several names. Arena name Years used Historical significance Charlotte Coliseum 1988–2002 Home of the original Hornets and their most successful 1990s seasons. Charlotte Coliseum 2004–2005 Temporary home of the newly established Charlotte Bobcats. Charlotte Bobcats Arena 2005–2008 New downtown arena opened for the Bobcats. Time Warner Cable Arena 2008–2016 Renamed during the Bobcats era and the early return of the Hornets identity. Spectrum Center 2016–present Current downtown Charlotte home arena. The original Charlotte Coliseum became famous for its atmosphere and large crowds. The move to the downtown arena brought the franchise into a modern basketball and entertainment facility closer to Charlotte’s city center. The current venue is known as Spectrum Center. It also hosted the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, a major event for the franchise and the city. Basketball Hall of Fame: Who Was Inducted as a Hornet NONE NBA Rookie of the Year Award Won as a Hornet Larry Johnson — 1991–92 Larry Johnson won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in his first season with Charlotte after being selected first overall in the 1991 NBA Draft. He averaged 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, establishing himself as one of the league’s most promising young forwards. His strength, athleticism, and personality helped make the young Hornets a must-watch team. Johnson’s arrival gave Charlotte a franchise centerpiece and helped build the excitement surrounding the Hornets during the early 1990s. He NBA All-Star multiple times while playing for Charlotte. NBA Most Valuable Player Award Won as a Hornet The Charlotte Hornets have never had a player win the NBA regular-season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award while playing for the franchise. The Hornets have had star players and All-Stars, but no player has won the league’s overall regular-season MVP award as a member of the team. That… Continue reading Charlotte Hornets History: Owners, Home Arenas, Hall of Famers, Awards and Legacy
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Washington Commanders: A Complete History
The Washington Commanders are one of the National Football League’s oldest and most historically significant franchises. The organization began in Boston in 1932 as the Boston Braves, moved to Washington in 1937, and has gone through several names and eras before becoming the Washington Commanders in 2022. Over more than nine decades, the franchise has won two NFL championships before the Super Bowl era and three Super Bowl championships, produced numerous Pro Football Hall of Famers, and become associated with legendary figures such as Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Darrell Green, John Riggins, Art Monk, Joe Gibbs and many others. The Franchise History is Officially Recognized As 1932: Boston Braves 1933–1936: Boston Redskins 1937–2019: Washington Redskins 2020–2021: Washington Football Team 2022–present: Washington Commanders Washington has won NFL championships in 1937 and 1942, followed by Super Bowl championships in 1982, 1987 and 1991. The Beginning: Boston Braves The franchise was established in 1932 when George Preston Marshall headed a group that purchased an NFL franchise in Boston. The original team was called the Boston Braves, and the club played its first season at Braves Field, the home of baseball’s Boston Braves. After the 1932 season, the organization changed its nickname to the Redskins. The team played at Fenway Park from 1933 through 1936. In 1937, the franchise moved from Boston to Washington, D.C. The move immediately produced one of the greatest beginnings in NFL history. Washington won the NFL championship in its first season in the nation’s capital. All Home Stadiums of the Franchise The Washington franchise has called seven principal stadium configurations home during its history. 1. Braves Field — Boston, Massachusetts 1932 Braves Field was the original home of the franchise when it entered the NFL as the Boston Braves in 1932. It was primarily a baseball stadium and was home to the Boston Braves of Major League Baseball. 2. Fenway Park — Boston, Massachusetts 1933–1936 After the franchise changed its name to the Boston Redskins, the team moved to Fenway Park. The football team shared the famous Boston stadium with the Boston Red Sox. 3. Griffith Stadium — Washington, D.C. 1937–1960 The franchise moved to Washington in 1937 and played at Griffith Stadium. This was the site of the team’s first Washington championship season. The 1937 Redskins won the NFL championship, defeating the Chicago Bears. Washington returned to the NFL championship game in 1942 and defeated the Bears again. Griffith Stadium therefore witnessed the beginning of Washington’s championship tradition. 4. D.C. Stadium / RFK Stadium — Washington, D.C. 1961–1996 Washington moved into the new D.C. Stadium in 1961. The facility was renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as RFK Stadium, in 1969. RFK became one of the most recognizable home fields in franchise history. The stadium was home for 36 seasons and hosted Washington through the George Allen era, the early Joe Gibbs era and the first two Super Bowl championships of the modern era. The Commanders’ own history describes RFK as the team’s home for 35 seasons from 1961 through 1996. 5. Jack Kent Cooke Stadium — Landover, Maryland 1997–1999 Washington moved across the Potomac into suburban Maryland in 1997. The new stadium was named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in honor of the longtime owner who had died earlier that year. It opened shortly after Cooke’s death. 6. FedExField — Landover, Maryland 1999–2023 The stadium was renamed FedExField in 1999 after Washington sold the naming rights. It remained Washington’s home for 25 seasons. The stadium hosted the team throughout the majority of the Daniel Snyder ownership era and through the franchise’s transition from Redskins to Washington Football Team and then Commanders. 7. Northwest Stadium — Landover, Maryland 2024–present The stadium became known as Northwest Stadium in 2024. It remains the Commanders’ current home. The franchise is also planning a future return to Washington, D.C., with a new stadium project at the former RFK Stadium site targeted for the future. The Owners of the Washington Franchise Ownership has changed several times during the franchise’s long history. George Preston Marshall 1932–1969 George Preston Marshall was the founder of the franchise. He helped establish the Boston Braves in 1932, renamed the club the Redskins in 1933 and moved the organization to Washington in 1937. Marshall was also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor. Under Marshall, Washington won NFL championships in 1937 and 1942. Edward Bennett Williams 1960s–1970s — President and Partial Owner Edward Bennett Williams became one of the most important figures in the franchise during the transition from Marshall to Jack Kent Cooke. Williams served as team president and held an ownership interest. He was instrumental in the organization during the late Marshall and early Cooke years. Jack Kent Cooke 1960–1997; Majority Owner from 1974 Cooke first purchased a minority interest in Washington in 1960. He became the franchise’s majority owner in 1974 and eventually became the sole owner. Cooke became one of the most influential owners in Washington sports history. His ownership produced the greatest sustained championship period in franchise history. Under Cooke, Washington won: Super Bowl XVII — 1982 season Super Bowl XXII — 1987 season Super Bowl XXVI — 1991 season Cooke also oversaw the construction of the stadium that originally carried his name. He died in 1997. The Cooke Estate and John Cooke 1997–1999 After Jack Kent Cooke’s death, ownership passed through his estate while the franchise was being prepared for sale. His son, John… Continue reading Washington Commanders: A Complete History
Philadelphia 76ers History:
Philadelphia 76ers History: From the Syracuse Nationals to Three NBA Championships The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the NBA’s oldest and most historically important franchises. Their story actually begins in Syracuse, New York, in 1946, when Danny Biasone founded the Syracuse Nationals. The franchise joined the NBA in 1949, won a championship in Syracuse in 1955, moved to Philadelphia in 1963, and became the 76ers. Since then, Philadelphia has been home to Wilt Chamberlain, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson and Joel Embiid. The franchise has won three NBA championships: 1955, 1967 and 1983. From the Syracuse Nationals to the Philadelphia 76ers Danny Biasone Builds the Franchise On November 14, 1946, Danny Biasone founded the Syracuse Nationals, sending a $5,000 check to the National Basketball League. Biasone wasn’t merely an owner. He became one of basketball’s most important innovators. He and general manager Leo Ferris developed the concept of the 24-second shot clock, which transformed professional basketball from a slow, possession-oriented game into the faster sport fans recognize today. The Nationals joined the NBA in 1949 when the NBL and Basketball Association of America merged. The franchise reached the NBA Finals several times before finally winning its first championship in 1955, defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games. The Franchise’s Ownership History The 76ers’ ownership history is unusual because the franchise has had relatively few ownership changes over more than 75 years. Danny Biasone — 1946-1963 Biasone founded and owned the Syracuse Nationals. He remained the franchise’s principal owner until the team was sold and moved to Philadelphia. Ike Richman and Irv Kosloff — 1963-1976 In 1963, Philadelphia businessmen Ike Richman and Irv Kosloff purchased the Nationals from Biasone. They moved the franchise to Philadelphia and renamed it the 76ers. Their ownership produced one of the greatest teams in NBA history. The 1966-67 76ers went 68-13, then defeated the San Francisco Warriors in the NBA Finals. Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. — 1976-1981 Fitz Dixon purchased the 76ers from Kosloff in 1976. One of his first major moves was acquiring Julius Erving from the New York Nets. That transaction changed the franchise. Harold Katz — 1981-1996 Katz purchased the team from Dixon in 1981. He was the owner when Philadelphia acquired Moses Malone and won the 1983 NBA championship. Comcast Spectacor — 1996-2011 Comcast Spectacor purchased the 76ers from Katz in 1996. The company was led by Philadelphia sports executive Ed Snider. The organization owned the club during the early Allen Iverson years, including Philadelphia’s run to the 2001 NBA Finals. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment — 2011-present In 2011, an investment group led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer purchased the 76ers from Comcast Spectacor. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment remains the controlling ownership group. Every Major 76ers Home Arena Because the franchise began as the Syracuse Nationals, its home-arena history stretches back to the 1940s. State Fair Coliseum — Syracuse The Nationals played some of their earliest games at the State Fair Coliseum. War Memorial Arena — Syracuse The Oncenter War Memorial Arena, originally the War Memorial, became an important Nationals home. It was the setting for the franchise’s first NBA championship in 1955. Philadelphia Civic Center / Convention Hall After moving to Philadelphia in 1963, the new 76ers initially played at Philadelphia’s Civic Center and Convention Hall. The building hosted the team’s early Philadelphia years, including the beginning of the Wilt Chamberlain era. The Spectrum — 1967-1996 The 76ers moved into the Spectrum in 1967. This became the home of the greatest team in franchise history up to that point. The 1967 championship team played its first Spectrum season immediately after winning the title. The Spectrum later became home to the Julius Erving and Moses Malone era. The Center — 1996-1997 The new South Philadelphia arena opened in 1996 as the CoreStates Center. It subsequently became the First Union Center and then the Wachovia Center. The 76ers played there during the beginning of the Allen Iverson era. Wells Fargo Center — 2010-2025 The arena eventually became the Wells Fargo Center. It was the home of the 76ers through the 2024-25 season. Xfinity Mobile Arena — 2025-present The arena was renamed Xfinity Mobile Arena effective September 1, 2025. It remains the 76ers’ home in the 2026-27 season. A new arena is currently planned for Philadelphia’s South Philadelphia sports complex, with the project currently scheduled to open in 2030 according to the latest announcement. The Greatest 76ers Draft Picks Philadelphia has had some spectacular drafts, although some of its most important players — Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving and Moses Malone — arrived through other means. Here are several of the franchise’s most important draft selections. Dolph Schayes Schayes was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in 1948. He became the foundation of the franchise’s first great era. He played 15 seasons with the franchise, made 12 All-Star teams and eventually became a Hall of Famer. His No. 4 is retired by Philadelphia. Verdict: Outstanding success. Schayes was the first true superstar in franchise history. Billy Cunningham — 1965 Philadelphia selected Cunningham fifth overall in the 1965 NBA Draft. “The Kangaroo Kid” became one of the most important players in franchise history. He made four All-NBA teams, became an All-Star and eventually coached the 76ers to the 1983 championship. Verdict Outstanding success. He succeeded both as a player and coach. Darryl Dawkins — 1975 Philadelphia selected Darryl Dawkins fifth overall in 1975. He was also one of the first major players to… Continue reading Philadelphia 76ers History:
