Charlotte Bobcats Reportedly Begin Process of Changing Nickname Back to Hornets

[JimLeavy59]

The Charlotte Bobcats have begun the process of changing the team name to the Hornets, according to CBS Sports. The Charlotte Hornets played in North Carolina as an expansion team from 1988 until 2002 when owner George Shinn moved the franchise to New Orleans. With the New Orleans franchise rebranding to the Pelicans next season, the door is open for Charlotte to reclaim the team name. That's exactly what is happening.


The Bobcats took their name from Robert Johnson, the man who brought them into existence in 2004 as the owner of the expansion franchise. Johnson sold his shares to minority owner Michael Jordan in February of 2010, making Jordan the first former player to own an NBA team.


The rebranding is a welcome change for the Bobcats, who finished with the worst record in the NBA in 2011-2012 and the second-worst record in 2012-2013. As the Hornets, Charlotte reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals four times between 1993-2002.


NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said a potential name change would take at least 18 months to implement.

Wouldn't mind seeing this happen.

[Sportsbuck]

Seriously so happy. Need to work on putting a good team on the court, but so stoked that the Hornets name is back in the Queen City where it belongs.

Kind of sad that this is probably the best moment in franchise history.

[JimLeavy59]

Hornets(Bobcats) really screwed up in the 2011 draft that draft will haunt the franchise for years.

[Sportsbuck]

Hornets(Bobcats) really screwed up in the 2011 draft that draft will haunt the franchise for years.

How do you figure?

[JimLeavy59]

How do you figure?

[EmpireWF]

Hornets(Bobcats) really screwed up in the 2011 draft that draft will haunt the franchise for years.

Don't know about HAUNT, but yes, majority of their drafts the past 5 or so years have been turrible.

On the bright side, they have a couple of real nice players in Kemba & Gilchrist (Henderson's solid) and they have another opportunity to get it right next month with the #2 overall pick.

The return of the HORNETS tho,

[CrimsonGhost56]

finally millions of these will become relevant again



didnt matter if you were a hornets fan, if it was the mid-90's you owned one or knew about 6 people who owned one of those jackets

[red33]

those were popular along with san jose shark stuff

[Sportsbuck]

Yeah, Biz definitely hasn't lived up to his draft pick, but I'd say the Kemba Walker selection worked out pretty well for us.

Our draft history is nothing to be proud of lol

[MrBill]

Now if the "Jazz" name could be sent back to New Orleans...the least jazzy place in the world is Utah

[Rayman]

Seeing as how "Bobcats" is nothing but a homage to the team's original shithead of an owner, this was long overdue. Good on them.

[ryne candy]

Used to be my fav team till they moved. I actually hated the Bulls during the Jordan years cause they always kicked our ass. I remember watching the Playoff win against the Celtics in '93.

[KNUBB]

Now if the "Jazz" name could be sent back to New Orleans...the least jazzy place in the world is Utah

I don't want it anymore. will be weird tho cuz I was a Charlotte Hornets fan before they were in New Orleans. The original Hornets history belongs to New Orleans.

[Sportsbuck]

The original Hornets history belongs to New Orleans.

While this is true, it's very much like the OKC-Seattle situation, where NO may own the history, but it's Charlotte's history that they own.

[dell71]

Glad this is happening. Now, if they could just actually draft better players.