Key Takeaways
- The Charlotte Hornets surprised Muggsy Bogues by having him unknowingly read the announcement that the team will retire his No. 1 jersey on Feb. 11, 2027.
- Bogues grew emotional as Dell Curry and Hornets staff celebrated him, later saying the recognition from the city he calls home “means the world.”
- The 5-foot-3 guard spent 10 seasons in Charlotte and remains the franchise leader in assists, steals, and minutes played.
The Charlotte Hornets are retiring former NBA player Muggsy Bogues’ No. 1 jersey—and staff informed him by having him unknowingly read the announcement.
In official footage released by the team, Bogues is speaking for what he believes to be a promotional video for the JR NBA and WNBA.
He reads off the screen, “Join my family and me on Feb. 11, 2027, as we watch my No. 1 Charlotte Hornets jersey get raised to the rafters of the Spectrum Center.”
As he talks, it becomes clear that he’s taken aback by the words. Moments later, he gets emotional as former player Dell Curry and Hornets staff tell him how worthy he is of having his jersey retired.
Check out the reveal below.
Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history at 5 feet 3 inches. He spent 10 of his 14 seasons in the NBA playing for the Hornets from 1988 to 1998 and is the franchise’s leader in steals, assists, and minutes.
Speaking about his jersey’s retirement to The Associated Press, Bogues said, "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.
"Charlotte embraced me with open arms," Bogues added. "This is a place I've called home more than I've called any other place home, even growing up in the city of Baltimore. So having this type of recognition for my family, for the organization to look at you in this type of light, I mean, it means the world."
Bogues joins Curry and Bobby Phills as the only players to have their jerseys retired by the Hornets.
