Top Five Scorers in New Orleans Hornets History
Founded as the Charlotte Hornets, the New Orleans Hornets franchise has been in business in the NBA
since 1989. The franchise's accomplishments include 11 playoff appearances, nine All-NBA honors, and beta testing Oklahoma City for the Thunder. The all-time leading scorers in New Orleans Hornets history include the two top active players on the team, Chris Paul and David West.
5. Chris Paul: 6,668 points*
Current All-Star point guard Chris Paul is up to fifth on the New Orleans Hornets' all-time leading scorers list. In addition to demonstrating brilliant play-making and defensive skills, Paul has been a highly efficient scoring threat for New Orleans throughout his five-year career. The 2005 first round pick became the Rookie of the Year with a freshman average of 16.1 points per game. He scored more than 20 points per contest in 2007-08 and 2008-09 in addition to leading the NBA in both assists and steals in each season. Entering the 2010-11 season, Chris Paul is boasting career averages of 19.3 points, 10.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
4. David West: 7,368 points*
Active power forward David West has climbed to the fourth spot among the New Orleans Hornets' all-time leading scorers. The Xavier graduate had a slow start to his career, but he increased his scoring output in each of his first six seasons, peaking at 21.0 points per game in 2008-09. West has been an NBA All-Star twice in the last three seasons. He is a versatile scorer, capable of posting up and scoring from mid-range. Through his first seven seasons with the Hornets, he has career averages of 16.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest.
3. Larry Johnson: 7,405 points
Former number one overall pick Larry Johnson ranks third on the New Orleans Hornets' all-time leading scorers list. Spending the first half
of his ten year career with the Hornets, Johnson twice averaged a double-double as he averaged better than 15 points per game in each of the five seasons. The two-time All-Star and 1992 Rookie of the Year averaged a career-high 22.1 points per game in 1992-93 to help the Hornets reach their first playoffs. After five additional seasons with the Knicks, Johnson totaled 11,450 career points.
2. David Wesley: 7,670 points
Combo guard David Wesley is the second leading scorer in New Orleans Hornets' history. Wesley developed into an above-average player in Boston before joining the Hornets in 1997. He scored 13-plus points per game in all eight of his seasons with the Hornets, posting a career-high of 17.2 in 2000-01. In 522 games with the Hornets from 1997 to 2004, Wesley averaged 14.7 points and 4.7 assists per game.
1. Dell Curry: 9,839 points
Sharpshooter Dell Curry is the New Orleans Hornets' all-time leading scorer. With 701 games with Charlotte, Curry is the longest-tenured player in Hornets' history. He spent ten seasons as the team's sixth man from 1988 to 1998, winning a Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1994. Curry was best known for being one of the NBA's all-time greatest shooters. He knocked down 1,245 three-point baskets for a good chunk of his 12,670 career points. Curry averaged double-figures in all but his final season in Charlotte, topping the 15 per game mark four times.
* Indicates the player is active with the team.
