One of the many surprises in the draft last month was Charlotte's selection of Cody Zeller, when highly touted prospects Ben McLemore & Nerlens Noel were still available. The next day I saw a YouTube clip showing the live reaction of Bobcats fans at their official draft party inside the Charlotte arena; these folks were pretty outraged upon the selection. Such a negative response is certainly unfair at this point, as time will tell if their selection was wise or foolish.
Nonetheless, I started thinking about the Bobcats' consistent lack of star players and team success throughout their entire 9 year existence. How does this franchise's 9 year start compare to every other expansion team throughout history? Below I've ranked (in reverse order) all 18 expansion teams, reflecting their level of success within those first 9 years. Are the Bobcats the worst of the group? Are they hopeless? The answer to both of these questions is...no.
18. New Orleans Jazz
Name change(s): Utah Jazz
Notable stars: Pete Maravich, Adrian Dantley
Overall win percentage: 36% (268-470 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 0
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: none
Playoff seasons: 0
Playoff games won: 0
Playoff ceiling: n/a
17. Vancouver Grizzlies
Inaugural season: 1995
Name change(s): Memphis Grizzlies
Notable stars: Pau Gasol, Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Overall win percentage: 28% (202-504 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 1
Seasons with 50+ wins: 1
First playoffs: 9th season
Playoff seasons: 1
Playoff games won: 0
Playoff ceiling: Lost in first round (0-4)
16. Charlotte Bobcats
Inaugural season: 2004Name change(s): Charlotte Hornets (coming soon)
Notable stars: Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor
Overall win percentage: 34% (250-472 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 1
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 6th season
Playoff seasons: 1
Playoff games won: 0
Playoff ceiling: Lost in first round (0-4)
15. Minnesota Timberwolves
Inaugural season: 1989
Name change(s): n/a
Notable stars: Kevin Garnett, Tom Gugliotta
Overall win percentage: 32% (237-501 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 1
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 8th season
Playoff seasons: 2 (years 8-9)
Playoff games won: 2
Playoff ceiling: Lost in first round (2-3)
14. San Diego Rockets
Inaugural season: 1967Name change(s): Houston Rockets
Notable stars: Elvin Hayes, Calvin Murphy
Overall win percentage: 40% (299-439 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 1
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 2nd season
Playoff seasons: 2 (years 2,8)
Playoff games won: 5
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (1-4)
13. Seattle Supersonics
Inaugural season: 1967
Name change(s): Oklahoma City Thunder
Notable stars: Spencer Haywood, Lenny Wilkens
Overall win percentage: 44% (322-416 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 3
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 8th season
Playoff seasons: 2 (years 8,9)
Playoff games won: 6
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (2-4)
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
Inaugural season: 1970Name change(s): n/a
Notable stars: Austin Carr, Campy Russell
Overall win percentage: 41% (304-434 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 3
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 6th season
Playoff seasons: 3 (years 6-8)
Playoff games won: 7
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (2-4)
11. Buffalo Braves
Inaugural season: 1970
Name change(s): San Diego Clippers -> LA Clippers
Notable stars: Bob McAdoo, Randy Smith
Overall win percentage: 41% (302-436 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 4
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 4th season
Playoff seasons: 3 (years 4-6)
Playoff games won: 9
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (2-4)
10. Chicago Packers
Inaugural season: 1961Name change(s): Chicago Zephyrs -> Baltimore Bullets -> Capital Bullets -> Washington Bullets -> Washington Wizards
Notable stars: Walt Bellamy, Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld
Overall win percentage: 43% (312-415 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 2
Seasons with 50+ wins: 2
First playoffs: 4th season
Playoff seasons: 4 (years 4,5,8,9)
Playoff games won: 8
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (2-4)
9. Toronto Raptors
Inaugural season: 1995
Name change(s): n/a
Notable stars: Vince Carter, Damon Stoudamire
Overall win percentage: 40% (281-425 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 3
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 5th season
Playoff seasons: 3 (years 5-7)
Playoff games won: 8
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (3-4)
8. Charlotte Hornets
Name change(s): New Orleans Hornets -> New Orleans Pelicans
Most notable stars: Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson
Overall win percentage: 44% (326-412 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 5
Seasons with 50+ wins: 2
First playoffs: 5th season
Playoff seasons: 3 (years 5,7,9)
Playoff games won: 5
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (1-4)
7. Miami Heat
Inaugural season: 1988
Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Glen Rice, Alonzo Mourning
Overall win percentage: 42% (308-430 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 3
Seasons with 50+ wins: 1
First playoffs: 4th season
Playoff seasons: 4 (years 4,6,8,9)
Playoff games won: 10
Playoff ceiling: Lost in conference finals (1-4)
6. Phoenix Suns
Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Connie Hawkins, Paul Westphal
Overall win percentage: 44% (328-410 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 3
Seasons with 50+ wins: 0
First playoffs: 2nd season
Playoff seasons: 2 (years 2,8)
Playoff games won: 13
Playoff ceiling: Lost in Finals (2-4)
5. Dallas Mavericks
Inaugural season: 1980
Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman
Overall win percentage: 48% (358-380 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 5
Seasons with 50+ wins: 2
First playoffs: 4th season
Playoff seasons: 5 (years 4-8)
Playoff games won: 21
Playoff ceiling: Lost in conference finals (3-4)
4. Chicago Bulls
Inaugural season: 1966Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Bob Love, Chet Walker
Overall win percentage: 53% (394-343 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 5
Seasons with 50+ wins: 4
First playoffs: 1st season
Playoff seasons: 8 (years 1,2, 4-9)
Playoff games won: 19
Playoff ceiling: Lost in second round (3-4)
3. Orlando Magic
Inaugural season: 1989
Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway
Overall win percentage: 49% (364-374 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 6
Seasons with 50+ wins: 3
First playoffs: 5th season
Playoff seasons: 4 (years 5-8)
Playoff games won: 20
Playoff ceiling: Lost in Finals (0-4)
2. Portland Trail Blazers
Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas
Overall win percentage: 44% (322-416 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 3
Seasons with 50+ wins: 1
First playoffs: 7th season
Playoff seasons: 3 (years 7-9)
Playoff games won: 17
Playoff ceiling: Won 1977 NBA Finals (4-2)
1. Milwaukee Bucks
Inaugural season: 1968
Name change(s): n/a
Most notable stars: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson
Overall win percentage: 59% (437-301 record)
Seasons with .500+ record: 5
Seasons with 50+ wins: 5
First playoffs: 2nd season
Playoff seasons: 6 (years 2-6, 8)
Playoff games won: 37
Playoff ceiling: Won 1971 NBA Finals (4-0)
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