Johnny Townsend

artist, podcast host Retro Blissed, History Creeps, unqualified NBA and WWE expert, crippling need for attention

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

I remember being really excited as a kid to have a legend like the chief on my favorite team! Underrated part of that incredible Celtic team.

[Hornets Historian @HornetsHistory]

June 3rd, 2026

Spotlight Player OTD: Robert Parish

The Chief, best known for his time as a nine-time All-Star in Boston, played two of his final three seasons for the Hornets.

Parish averaged around 15 minutes a game in those two years, and was seldom a starter unless necessary. But he was initially signed to mainly be a mentor to Alonzo Mourning.

“Coming off the bench behind a fine young center like Alonzo Mourning fits my style,” Parish told the AP when Charlotte signed him in 1994.

He was an important veteran for Allan Bristow’s final two teams, and a stabilizer in the locker room when LJ and ‘Zo would get traded in the span of 6 months.

Parish saw the trade transition through — despite being signed almost exclusively for ‘Zo — and played alongside Glen Rice during his first year with the Hornets, too.

He was 41 and 42 years old during these two years, and still managed to put up a good many double-doubles in each season with the team.

Parish also started 34 games during his final Hornets’ campaign in 95-‘96 at 42 years old.

Scott Fowler and Charles Chandler of the Observer also reported in their Hornets Notebook that former Hornet Frank Brickowski and his agent weren’t thrilled at all about Parish’s signing with the Hornets in 1994.

More so his agent than Brickowski himself.

Stephen Blick, Brickowski’s agent, told Fowler, Chandler, and the Observer 2 days before Parish was signed that, “I’ll bet you all the money in your piggy bank that you’re wrong and Parish won’t sign in Charlotte.”

That Wednesday before Parish was signed, Blick reportedly believed a Brickowski deal to return to Charlotte was all but done. That didn’t end up being the case, clearly.

“That’s the toughest part of this business,” HC Allan Bristow told the Observer. “Once you get to know a player, especially with close relationship like I had with Frank, at some point you have to draw the line. We made a business decision (to sign Parish). I hope it doesn’t reflect on our friendship.”

Parish played 21 years total in the NBA, and was inducted into the Naismith HOF in 2003. He would play one more year in the league after Charlotte, playing with the Bulls before he’d retire.

Here’s a video from Parish’s introductory presser, and newspapers from when Parish first signed (including the Hornets Notebook where I read the info on Brickowski’s agent from Fowler/Chandler):

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

@HornetsHistory @0wenwatterson I really enjoy these player spotlights. Please keep them coming!

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

I always get annoyed when he’s not brought up as one of the best shooters to play in the NBA

[Hornets Historian @HornetsHistory]

May 28th, 2026

Spotlight Player OTD: Glen Rice 🎂🎉

Happy birthday wishes are in order for one of the most fondly remembered Hornets of all-time:

- Despite just 3 seasons, Rice was an All-Star every year in Charlotte; T-1st at 3 for most ASG selections in team history with Kemba Walker.

- Only player besides Al Jefferson (‘13-‘14) to ever receive MVP votes.

- Only All-Star Game MVP in team history (was when the ASG was also taken much more seriously by the players). Rice won MVP despite MJ finishing the same ASG with a triple-double.

- Led Charlotte to a *still* franchise-high 54 wins in 1996-97… Charlotte finished as a SIXTH-seed in a powerhouse East despite 54 wins. 54 is, to this day, still the most ever wins by a team in either conference which finished sixth.

- Rice’s 26.8 PPG in ‘96-‘97 is still highest-ever single-season points average by a Hornet or Bobcat.

I compiled a bunch of different highlights from Rice’s time in Charlotte only — enjoy!:

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

If you’re a Charlotte Hornets nerd like me then this account is a must follow. Highly recommend it.

[Hornets Historian @HornetsHistory]

May 27th, 2026

Spotlight Coach OTD: Mike Dunlap 🎂🎉

Dunlap was tossed into a near-impossible situation during his only year as Charlotte’s head coach:

Following up a 7-win season. He was also following in place of Paul Silas, whose name, despite the historically bad lockout year, still garnered a ton of respect in the city of Charlotte.

This is still the only NBA head coaching job Dunlap has ever had, but before Charlotte, he had a really successful stint in Denver as an assistant coach while Carmelo and Iverson were playing there.

When the Bobcats hired him, Dunlap was the chief assistant coach at St. John’s, officially.

But Dunlap was the interim coach of St. John’s during his final CBB season there pre-Charlotte. SJU’s acting head coach was recovering from prostate cancer surgery for much of that final year for Dunlap.

Post-Charlotte, he also spent time as an assistant coach with Milwaukee when they won a championship.

Dunlap’s three years as an assistant coach in Milwaukee were also all spent alongside active Hornets’ head coach Charles Lee.

Lee was there two years before Dunlap, but they would both leave the Bucks after the 2022-2023 season when Milwaukee fired Mike Budenholzer as their coach.

Charles Lee would go onto Boston, but Dunlap took a different route.

Mike hasn’t coached in the NBA since Budenholzer was out in Milwaukee, but instead he took a Men’s Basketball head coaching position at Colorado Mesa, a D2 program in the state it’s name pays homage to.

Ive posted both Byron Mullens and Reggie Williams recently, both of whom played their final Bobcats’ days under Dunlap as HC.

Dunlap was one of THREE Bobcats’ head coaches from 2007-2013 who only got one season before being replaced.

Had the ‘Cats landed the 1st pick in the 2012 lottery for Anthony Davis instead of MKG…

Dunlap’s career could’ve started a lot differently, you’d think. Gerald Henderson got injured early in the year, and it led to an 18-game losing streak.

Ultimately Dunlap was around for the young moments of a lot of players who stayed in Charlotte for a long time:

Henderson was in his 3rd year, Kemba Walker was in his 2nd season under Dunlap, and MKG/Bismack Biyombo were both rookies.

Newspapers from Dunlap’s hiring and firing are below:

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

Gill spitting some facts. LJ was my fave player growing up and I wish kids today could have saw him pre back injury.

[Hornets Historian @HornetsHistory]

Kendall Gill speaking on Larry Johnson, and how he was on track to be a HOF’er before his back injury:

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

@HornetsHistory Def an underrated player!

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

This is a vague post about something. And no context shall be given!

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

Heck of a game!!! Go Hornets!!!! Dang what a game. Hornets had to overcome some poor shooting and Amazon prime’s technical difficulties in overtime.

[Hornets Historian @HornetsHistory]

A really awesome full feature profile on Glen Rice that the show “NBA Action” did not long after this game below.

Everyone should watch this:

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

One of my all time favorite players

[Hoop Herald @TheHoopHerald]

Larry Johnson was special and usually one the first Charlotte Hornets people think about when they see the logo

A Swiss Army Knife who could do a little bit of everything, he was an absolute PROBLEM

(Via @NBAHistory 🎥)

[Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com @SeanRossSapp]

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- RT this post
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[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

People sleep on how good Mashburn was.

[Hornets Historian @HornetsHistory]

March 24th, 2002

Hornets beat the Pacers 99-84 for the sixth win in a row

Jamal Mashburn led the way scoring-wise for the Hornets with 36 points on 13/23 shooting from the field. He was 2/4 from beyond the three-point line.

In honor of the real-time Hornets/Kings game right now — very reminiscent of the type of game Demar DeRozan played against the Hornets two weeks ago in Sac.

Monster Mash also had 3 REB and 2 AST. 36 tied his season high in points by this time.

Three other Hornets in the starting lineup had double-doubles:

Baron Davis (21 PTS, 11 AST, 3 REB), PJ Brown (10 PTS, 19 REB, 4 BLK’s), and Jamaal Magloire with 14 PTS and 10 REB.

PJ Brown was particularly happy about his performance based off of Leonard Laye’s quotes in these observer clips:

“I was juiced today,” PJ told Laye.

The only good kind of juiced a player can be was whatever PJ was feeling that day. Brown finished:

“I was just having fun. This (kind of performance) is when I have the most fun.

“I just felt energetic. I got good rest Saturday night and today. I’m a quiet guy. Everybody knows that. But I was jabbering a little bit more. I got my first technical of the season. I was kind of proud of that

Brown had also told Laye sometime prior to this game that, “I’ve always said I’m the sixth option on a five-man team.”

Meaning that, of course, he wasn’t afraid to do the dirty, non-thanks-from-the-media type of work. Rick Bonnell was notorious for his love of defense and dirty and it’s cool to see his co-worker clearly had the same admiration, and highlighted it here.

Brown was involved in a double technical with well-known trash talker Reggie Miller in this game, like he mentioned in the quote above.

Charlotte was on a win streak and fighting for a playoff seeding, and Miller had been suspended for two games for fighting less than a month before this. Someone had to break, and it was Indiana on this night.

Observer clip (that you should all read) and quick game highlights:

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

One of my favorite players to watch play

[That Guy Rocked NBA @NBAGuyRocked]

Antawn Jamison

That guy rocked.

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

@TerrenceRoss Legend!

[Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 @AndrewYang]

As usual I will give my x earnings ($555.63) to someone who likes this post! Winner chosen at random on Sunday. For extra fun if the winner follows @joinnoblemobile I will DOUBLE it and if you are a Noble subscriber I will give you FIVE times the amount! Good luck! 😀🎉

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

@SeanRossSapp Wcw nwo revenge!

[Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 @AndrewYang]

As usual I will give my x earnings ($728.54) to someone who likes this post! Winner chosen at random on Sunday. For extra fun if the winner follows @joinnoblemobile I will DOUBLE it and if you are a Noble subscriber I will give you FIVE times the amount! Good luck! 😀🎉

[Carter Wilkerson @carterjwm]

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

Heck yeah! Legend!!

[Charlotte Hornets @hornets]

On March 19th, No. 30 will be raised to the rafters.

Dell Curry’s lasting legacy as a player, broadcaster, and ambassador for more than 25 years with our organization will forever be honored and celebrated.

🔗 https://t.co/CwvIXYB1HQ | @realdellcurry

[Johnny Townsend @johnnyism]

McRib is a pretty great kitten name

[LadyValor @lady_valor_07]

You have to name him the last thing you ate