TWIN STARS
October 20, 2009

They’re as opposite as any two players on the Hornets.

One is 6-0 190…the other is 6-9 250.

One is 24 years old…the other is 29.

One plays point guard…the other is a power forward.

One relies on speed…the other on power.

Yet, entering opening day for the Hornets their two best players have so much in common that I’m disappointed it took me so long to recognize them.

Chris Paul and David West begin this season with EXACT SAME NUMBER OF CAREER NBA POINTS, 5,827. They’re tied for 5th all-time on the Hornets scoring list. I’ll bet there aren’t two all stars on any other TEAM in any SPORT in any LEAGUE who have identical career points (or goals, or touchdowns).

Paul and West have both increased their scoring averages EVERY SINGLE SEASON IN THE NBA. That’s three-straight seasons for Paul and five in a row for West.

The Hornets two best players have both been named NBA ALL-STARS TWO STRAIGHT SEASONS.

Both CP3 and DW were FIRST ROUND NBA DRAFT PICKS. The point guard slipped to 4th overall in 2005, the forward fell to 18th in 2003.

The high achieving duos were both FIRST TEAM AP ALL-AMERICANS IN THEIR FINAL COLLEGE SEASONS.

Chris and David also played for the same college coach, SKIP PROSSER. CP is the Wake Forest Demon Deacon while DW is the Xavier Musketeer.

And finally, the two twentysomething stars both graduated from North Carolina High Schools (West Forsyth HS in Winston Salem for Paul, and Garner Sr. HS in Garner for West).

If I wanted to stretch this basketball symbiosis I could add that they both have the number ‘3’ on their jerseys (3 for Paul and 30 for West), but that’s just me.

What does all this mean? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.

It’s obvious the Hornets have two very special players. One is the best at his position in basketball. The other is as good as any player at his position in Hornets history. In today’s NBA if you have two of the best at their positions you can compete for titles.

In their two all star seasons the Hornets have won 105 games, tying for the most ever over a two-year stretch in franchise history. To break the team mark for most victories in three consecutive seasons (146 from 1995-1997) the Bees need 42 wins – a likely occurrence.

And then we can not only add to the list of similarities between the Hornets twin stars but also begin to call them the best duo in franchise history.

THE TALL AND SHORT SIMILARITIES

	CAREER POINTS	ALL STAR GAMES	DRAFT PICK ROUND	COLLEGE COACH
PAUL	5,827	2	1st	SKIP PROSSER
WEST	5,827	2	1st	SKIP PROSSER