The Charlotte Hornets have made 27 lottery selections in the NBA Draft, including 1991-92 NBA Rookie of the Year Larry Johnson.
The NBA lottery was instituted for the 1985 Draft. The Charlotte Hornets franchise began in 1988-89, so all of their selections have come during the lottery era. Let’s highlight each lottery selection that has been made by the team.
Tidjane Salaün – 2024
Salaün was taken by the Hornets with the sixth pick in the 2024 Draft. He averaged 5.9 points and 4.7 rebounds over 60 games during his rookie campaign.
Brandon Miller – 2023
The Hornets took Miller with the second pick in the 2023 Draft. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023-24.
Jalen Duren – 2022
The Hornets selected Duren with the 13th pick in the 2022 Draft and immediately traded him in a three-team deal that also involved the Pistons and Knicks.
James Bouknight – 2021
The Hornets selected Bouknight with the 11th pick in the 2021 Draft. He has appeared in 79 games since being drafted, averaging 4.8 points and 0.8 three-pointers.
LaMelo Ball – 2020
Ball was taken by the Hornets with the third pick in the 2020 Draft. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2020-21 and made the All-Star team in 2021-22.
P.J. Washington – 2019
The Hornets selected Washington with the 12th pick in the 2019 Draft. He was eventually traded to the Mavericks during the 2023-24 season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2018
The Hornets selected Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th pick in the 2018 Draft and immediately traded him to the Clippers for the 12th pick in the 2018 Draft, which was Miles Bridges, and two future second-round picks.
Malik Monk – 2017
Monk was taken by the Hornets with the 11th pick in the 2017 Draft. Over four seasons with the team, he averaged 9.1 points and 1.4 three-pointers.
Frank Kaminsky – 2015
The Hornets selected Kaminsky with the ninth pick in the 2015 Draft. He spent four seasons with the franchise, averaging 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Noah Vonleh – 2014
The Hornets took Vonleh with the ninth pick in the 2014 Draft. He played just one season with the team, averaging 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds during his rookie season.
Cody Zeller – 2013
The Bobcats selected Zeller with the fourth pick in the 2013 Draft. Across 467 games with the team, he averaged 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Michael Kidd-Gilcrest – 2012
The Bobcats took Kidd-Gilcrest with the second pick in the 2012 Draft. Over 433 games with the franchise, he averaged 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Kemba Walker – 2011
The Bobcats selected Walker with the ninth pick in the 2011 Draft. Over eight seasons with the franchise, he averaged 19.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
Gerald Henderson – 2009
Henderson was selected with the 12th pick in the 2009 Draft by the Bobcats. He spent his first six seasons in the league with the franchise, averaging 12.0 points and 3.4 rebounds over 391 games.
D.J. Augustin – 2008
The Bobcats selected Augustin with the ninth pick in the 2008 Draft. He averaged 10.9 points and 4.4 assists over 282 games with the franchise.
Brandon Wright – 2007
The Bobcats selected Wright with the eighth pick in the 2007 Draft and traded him to the Warriors for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davis.
Adam Morrison – 2006
Morrison was selected third overall in the 2006 Draft by the Bobcats. He played in 161 career games in the NBA, 122 of which came with the Bobcats.
Raymond Felton – 2005
The Bobcats selected Felton with the fifth pick in the 2005 Draft. Over 399 games with the franchise, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
Sean May – 2005
The Bobcats selected May with the 13th pick in the 2005 Draft. He only played 119 career games in the NBA, 82 of which came with Charlotte.
Emeka Okafor – 2004
Okafor was selected by the then Charlotte Bobcats with the second pick in the 2004 Draft. He won the 2004-05 Rookie of the Year award and spent five seasons with the franchise before they moved to New Orleans, where he played for another three seasons.
Baron Davis – 1999
The Hornets took Davis with the third pick in the 1999 Draft. Across 246 regular season games with the franchise, he averaged 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
Kobe Bryant – 1996
The Hornets selected Bryant with the 13th pick in the 1996 Draft and traded him to the Lakers in a deal that landed them Vlade Divac. He won five championships over 20 seasons with the Lakers.
Alonzo Mourning – 1992
Mourning was selected second overall by the Hornets in the 1992 Draft. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and made two All-Star teams over three seasons with the Hornets.
Larry Johnson – 1991
Johnson was selected by the Hornets with the first pick in the 1991 Draft. He won the 1991-92 Rookie of the Year award and played five seasons with the franchise.
Kendall Gill – 1990
The Hornets used the fifth pick in the 1990 Draft to select Gill. He averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists over 266 games with the franchise.
J.R. Reid – 1989
The Hornets selected Reid with the fifth pick in the 1989 Draft. He averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds over 325 career games with the Hornets.
Rex Chapman – 1988
The Hornets selected Chapman with the eighth pick in the 1988 Draft. He averaged 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 220 career regular season games with the Hornets. He also played for the Bullets, Heat and Suns during his career.
