Charlotte Hornets GOAT Rankings

The debate rages on.

Many consider either LeBron James or Michael Jordan the greatest player in NBA history—the GOAT, as the title is widely abbreviated in sports circles. Some want to put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the conversation, while others seem determined to include Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

None of these answers are inherently correct or incorrect. Realizing that is vital.

We’re not going to fall into the trap made by other GOAT rankings and insist our order is the only acceptable one, since everyone values different legacy components uniquely. That’s what makes this conversation so difficult in and of itself: How much are you swayed by championships, longevity, era translations and every other possible piece of the argument?

Our rankings here are intended to tell you who produced the most on both ends of the floor relative to his peers. The longer the high-level production was sustained, the better. But team-based results like deep playoff runs and championships don’t have any bearing in this particular article, which focuses entirely on the Charlotte Hornets franchise.

Sections

  • Methodology
  • Flaws
  • GOAT Progression
  • Per-Season GOAT Standings
  • Top-Ranked Seasons
  • Top Rookie Seasons

Methodology

Our rankings are centered around the accumulation of GOAT points, which are calculated using the following steps:

  1. Isolate all TPA scores earned during any given season from 1951-52 through 2017-18, combining both regular-season and postseason numbers.
  2. Calculate the average and standard deviation of the data for the relevant season.
  3. Convert TPA scores to Z-Scores (standard deviations above or below the average). The Z-Scores then function as GOAT points.
  4. Sum GOAT points from all seasons to find career scores, though only players with at least 1.0 GOAT points will be depicted pictorially.

Flaws

This is by no means a perfect examination of basketball history, so treat it as a baseline if you desire.

Notable Flaw No. 1: TPA isn’t a Perfect Stat

Since TPA is derived from box plus/minus, we’re looking only at box-score stats and failing to give players proper credit for solid defensive switching, beneficial picks at the top of the key and so much more. Scores before 1973-74 are estimated through a correlation with win shares, which allows for some variance as well. A few players (see: Westbrook, Russell) even see their scores boosted by extreme interaction effects between assist percentage and usage rate, as BPM was never intended to handle such high numbers.

Notable Flaw No. 2: No Anecdotes

Memorable shots don’t matter here. Nor do performances that came in crunch-time scenarios. The stories told by these players can’t necessarily be quantified, even though they largely color our perception of these contributors.

Not a Flaw: Higher Scores for Modern Players

Because the league has more players these days (deeper rosters and more franchises), the standard deviation naturally shrinks. That makes it easier for modern standouts to earn higher Z-Scores, and thus higher numbers of GOAT points during a single go-round. This isn’t a flaw, so much as a purposeful part of the design.

Deviating from the pack in a positive fashion is harder in the modern Association, as back-end players who sit on the pine for large portions of contests have improved drastically. The supply/demand curve is the only justification necessary; the NBA has a finite number of roster spots and far more qualified players looking to earn them, which forces the level of those end-of-bench contributors to undergo an upward progression.

The league as a whole improves every year.

The GOAT Progression

  • Season Positives: Kurt Rambis (1.035)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: All
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: None
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Kendall Gill (0.111), Dell Curry (0.107)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Kendall Gill
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Johnson (1.562), Kendall Gill (0.462)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Larry Johnson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Johnson (2.141), Muggsy Bogues (0.089), Alonzo Mourning (0.032)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Alonzo Mourning
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Hersey Hawkins (1.058), Dell Curry (0.738), Larry Johnson (0.456), Alonzo Mourning (0.174), Muggsy Bogues (0.032)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Hersey Hawkins, Dell Curry
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Johnson (1.783), Hersey Hawkins (1.765), Scott Burrell (1.256), Alonzo Mourning (0.712), Muggsy Bogues (0.077), Michael Adams (0.018)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Scott Burrell, Michael Adams
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None

  • Season Positives: Larry Johnson (2.086), Glen Rice (1.049), Dell Curry (0.606), Scott Burrell (0.134)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Glen Rice
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Michael Adams

  • Season Positives: Anthony Mason (2.548), Vlade Divac (2.403), Glen Rice (0.771), Malik Rose (0.005)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Anthony Mason, Vlade Divac
    • Entered the Top 20: Anthony Mason, Vlade Divac, Malik Rose
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Vlade Divac (1.869), Anthony Mason (1.69), Glen Rice (0.443), Matt Geiger (0.422), Bobby Phills (0.168), David Wesley (0.093)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Bobby Phills
    • Entered the Top 20: Bobby Phills, David Wesley
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Dell Curry
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: David Wesley (1.151), Bobby Phills (0.726), Brad Miller (0.033)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: David Wesley
    • Entered the Top 20: Brad Miller
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Kendall Gill
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Eddie Jones (2.978), Anthony Mason (1.179), Derrick Coleman (0.499)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Eddie Jones
    • Entered the Top 20: Eddie Jones, Derrick Coleman
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Bobby Phills
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Baron Davis (1.965), Jamal Mashburn (1.276), P.J. Brown (0.775), David Wesley (0.156), Eddie Robinson (0.003)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn
    • Entered the Top 20: Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Scott Burrell, Alonzo Mourning
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Derrick Coleman

  • Season Positives: Baron Davis (2.754), P.J. Brown (0.948), Elden Campbell (0.535), Jamal Mashburn (0.073)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: P.J. Brown
    • Entered the Top 20: Elden Campbell
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: David Wesley
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Gerald Wallace (0.544), Jason Hart (0.282)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Gerald Wallace, Jason Hart
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Malik Rose

  • Season Positives: Gerald Wallace (2.085), Brevin Knight (0.066)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Gerald Wallace
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Kurt Rambis
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Gerald Wallace (2.012), Emeka Okafor (1.064), Derek Anderson (0.244), Sean May (0.131)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Derek Anderson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Dell Curry

  • Season Positives: Jason Richardson (1.654), Gerald Wallace (1.014)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Jason Richardson
    • Entered the Top 20: Jason Richardson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jamal Mashburn
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Derek Anderson

  • Season Positives: Gerald Wallace (1.995)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Gerald Wallace (2.188), Boris Diaw (1.095), Raymond Felton (0.833)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Boris Diaw
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Brad Miller

  • Season Positives: Boris Diaw (0.873)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Boris Diaw
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Jason Richardson
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: None
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kemba Walker (0.865)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Kemba Walker
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Elden Campbell

  • Season Positives: Josh McRoberts (1.371), Kemba Walker (0.933), Al Jefferson (0.911), Anthony Tolliver (0.051), Jannero Pargo (0.016)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Josh McRoberts, Al Jefferson
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: David Wesley, Jason Hart

  • Season Positives: Kemba Walker (0.991), Marvin Williams (0.398), Al Jefferson (0.099), Cody Zeller (0.098)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Kemba Walker
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: P.J. Brown
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kemba Walker (2.224), Marvin Williams (1.205), Nicolas Batum (0.929), Cody Zeller (0.32)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: Al Jefferson, Kendall Gill

  • Season Positives: Kemba Walker (1.773), Cody Zeller (0.641), Nicolas Batum (0.601), Marvin Williams (0.109), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (0.069)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: None
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

  • Season Positives: Kemba Walker (1.908), Marvin Williams (0.688), Nicolas Batum (0.592), Jeremy Lamb (0.414), Cody Zeller (0.078)
  • Notable Movement
    • Entered the Top 10: Marvin Williams
    • Entered the Top 20: None
    • Dropped out of the Top 10: Boris Diaw
    • Dropped out of the Top 20: None

Per-Season GOAT Standings

Perhaps you wish to take longevity out of the equation.

In that case, allow us to reveal the top 30 per-season scores, found simply by dividing total GOAT points by the number of NBA seasons recorded. Do note that injury-shortened campaigns (for example, Michael Jordan’s 1985-86 efforts, in which he played only 18 games while not sidelined with a broken foot) still count the same as full go-rounds. This methodology can also benefit players still in their primes, as they haven’t yet posted twilight seasons that drag down their averages.

Top-Ranked Seasons

Top Rookie Seasons