2005 Charlotte Bobcats

As expansion years go, the Charlotte Bobcats' effort in 2004-05 was decent. The Bobcats enjoyed a five-game cushion between themselves and the lowly Atlanta Hawks, and finishing out of the cellar is always a good start for a team. A good team nucleus, including Emeka Okafor and Primoz Brezec, should bring the Bobcats into playoff contention soon. That's as good a reason as you need to get your Bobcats tickets right away.

In December 2002, the NBA Expansion Committee decided that the NBA Board of Governors should approve an expansion franchise team for the city of Charlotte. This, of course, was anticipated by the basketball community in Charlotte, who felt cheated when their Charlotte Hornets became the New Orleans Hornets after the 2001 season.

Then, in January 2003, the NBA Board of Governors agreed to grant the city of Charlotte a much-needed NBA team in basketball country. Soon after that, Robert L. Johnson took over ownership of the NBA Charlotte Franchise as well as the WNBA Charlotte Sting, and several days before that, Ed Tapscott was hired on as executive vice president and chief operating officer. (Now notable, Ed Tapscott oversees both business and basketball aspects for the Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise and the WNBA Charlotte Sting.) In October 2003, Bernie Bickerstaff was named the head coach and general manger for the Charlotte Bobcats.

Bernie Bickerstaff had been around the sport of basketball for twenty-nine years before joining the Bobcats. He spent twelve years as an assistant head coach, another ten years as a head coach, and seven years as a general manager/president. Fourteen of his years were invested in the NBA, where he spent time with Seattle ('86-'90), Denver ('94-'97), and Washington ('97-'99).

With everything beginning to take shape, from head coach to the new home of the Bobcats, the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, the time came for the expansion draft. Time had also come for the NBA draft, as well as free agency. It was through these that the Charlotte Bobcats found their starting five, which included Jason Hart as guard, Gerald Wallace as forward, Tamar Slay as small forward/guard, second overall draft pick Emeka Okafor as power forward, and as center, standing 7'1', is Primoz Brezec. Now the Charlotte Bobcats have everything set in place and a new home in the South Eastern Division.