The Charlotte Hornets announced Tuesday that they will retire the No. 1 jersey of former point guard Muggsy Bogues on February 11 at Spectrum Center. Bogues, who stands 5-foot-3, is the shortest player in NBA history and will become the shortest player ever to have his jersey retired by an NBA team.
The honor surpasses the previous distinction held by Calvin Murphy, the 5-foot-9 guard who spent his entire career with the San Diego and Houston Rockets. Bogues was drafted 12th overall by the Washington Bullets in 1987 and began his career alongside 7-foot-7 center Manute Bol, then the tallest player in league history. After the Bullets left him unprotected in the 1988 expansion draft, the Hornets selected him ahead of their inaugural season.
Bogues became Charlotte's full-time starting point guard for the 1989-90 season and held the role through 1997. Though he never made an All-Star team and averaged a career-high 11.1 points per game, he recorded double-digit assists in multiple seasons and remains the franchise's all-time leader in steals. Alongside Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, he helped lead the Hornets to several playoff appearances during the franchise's most successful era in the 1990s.
Beyond his on-court achievements, Bogues is widely remembered for his appearance in the 1996 film "Space Jam," where he was one of five active NBA players whose talents were stolen by the Monstars. He will become the third player to have his number retired by the Hornets, joining Bobby Phills, who died in a 2000 car accident, and Dell Curry, who continues with the organization as a broadcaster.
