A second-round pick in the 1981 NBA Draft, Eddie Johnson carved out an impressive NBA career, playing 17 seasons between six different franchises, including the Charlotte Hornets. Johnson, better known as "The Smooth Shooter," was an accomplished rotation player, having won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award during the 1988-89 season with the Phoenix Suns. In that season, he averaged a career-high 21.5 points to go along with 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.7 steals.

Ahead of the 1993-94 season, he was acquired by the Hornets from the Seattle SuperSonics in a deal that included Kendall Gill. In one season with Charlotte, Johnson averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.5 steals in 73 games. He finished his career after the 1998-99 season with the Rockets and holds career averages of 16 points, four rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.6 steals.