Nov
4
The Birth of Two NBA Teams
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
While the Toronto Raptors were engaged in a thrilling heartbreaker with the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Center this afternoon, this wonderful city in Canada was awarded an expansion franchise by the NBA 14 years ago to this day.
The Raptors would, of course, begin play on November 3, 1995, beating a New Jersey Nets team led by Kenny Anderson by the final count of 94-79. Eventual rookie of the year Damon Stoudamire would notch 10 points and 10 assists in his professional debut with the Raptors, who were led by defensive stalwart Alvin Robertson and his 30 points. Toronto’s staring lineup that night included Stoudamire, Robertson, Ed Pinckney, Carlos Rogers and the immortal Zan Tabak. The Nets threw out an opposing lineup of Anderson, Kevin Edwards, P.J. Brown, Armon Gilliam and the late Yinka Dare from George Washington.
Back on this day in 1988, the Charlotte Hornets played its first ever professional, losing by 40 points to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Charlotte Coliseum. 23, 388 fans at the sold-out Coliseum saw a Charlotte team featuring Rex Chapman, Robert Reid and Kelly Tripuka lose 133-103 to Mark Price, Brad Daugherty and the rest of the Cavs.
The Hornets would of course leave Charlotte for New Orleans in 2002. During its time in Charlotte, the Hornets would never get past the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Charlotte would get a new franchise, the Bobcats, for the start of the 2004-2005 season.
Just about an hour ago, the Bobcats notched an impressive win against the Miami Heat. With the 90-88 victory, the Bobcats are now 2-0. Jason Richardson, Michael Jordan’s big acquisition in the summer, scored 29 points and is averaging 25 points per game through the Bobcats’ first two games.
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The Birth of Two NBA Teams 
