After retiring Dell Curry’s No. 30 jersey last season, the Hornets announced plans on Tuesday to retire the No. 1 jersey worn by Curry’s longtime teammate Muggsy Bogues, as Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes. The ceremony will take place on February 11 during halftime of a game vs. the Bucks.
A 14-year NBA veteran, Bogues spent nearly a decade in Charlotte, averaging 8.8 points, 8.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in 632 total regular season outings (501 starts). Like Curry, he was selected in the 1988 expansion draft ahead of the Hornets’ first season and helped the team evolve from a bottom-feeder in its first few years of existence into a perennial playoff threat by the mid-1990s.
While Bogues was one of the NBA’s assist leaders during his playing career, he’s best known for his height. At 5’3″, the former point guard is the shortest player in league history.
“How ironic is that?” Bogues said to Reynolds in discussing his jersey retirement. “After all those times that you felt like you were looking up, looking up for so many years, at people. Then here comes this particular moment, and when that jersey actually goes up it’ll be like I’m the one looking down at the entire world. It’s going to be a surreal moment.”
Although Bogues was traded to Golden State in 1997 and later played for Toronto before wrapping up his career, he “essentially has called the Carolinas home” since his days as a Hornet, Reynolds writes. The team’s press release announcing the Feb. 11 ceremony highlights Bogues’ work in the community, and Reynolds notes that he represented the Hornets at local events and during his work as an NBA ambassador for many years after his retirement.
Bogues will be the third Hornet to have his jersey retired, joining Curry and Bobby Phills (No. 13).
“Honoring the players who helped build this franchise is an important part of our commitment to Hornets history,” Hornets co-owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin said in a statement. “Muggsy was here from the beginning and played with a heart, toughness and competitive spirit that made him a fan favorite.
“At 5-foot-3, he overcame obstacles throughout his career and proved he belonged among the best players in the world. He became a role model for generations, showing young people that their size doesn’t have to limit what they can achieve. His accomplishments on the court and commitment to Charlotte have made him a beloved part of this organization. We look forward to celebrating Muggsy with our fans and raising No. 1 to the rafters of Spectrum Center.”
