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Ten years now since Bobby Phills passed away. Just a quick post to commemorate him. If you want to know more about Phills, check out the lengthy post we did last year.

We also set up a Bobby Phills Facebook page a year ago and it's nice to see that 504 people have become fans and a lot have left comments (check the Just Fans link) showing that BP is still fondly remembered.

The picture to the left shows Hornets' owner George Shinn congratulating Phills on winning the NBA's Central Division Sportsmanship Award back in 1998, and is especially fitting with Shinn scheduled to have his prostate removed tomorrow as his battle against cancer continues. Here's hoping it all goes well.

Thanks as always to Dariusz Ejkiewicz for today's banner.

Three banners hang side-by-side from the rafters in New Orleans Arena. The left-most banner features the number 7, retired in honor of "Pistol" Pete Maravich back in 2002 when the Hornets played their first game in New Orleans. The middle banner, unveiled almost eight months ago before Game 1 against the Mavericks, commemorates the Hornets winning the Southwest Division last season.

The third and right-most banner is the oldest. It was raised to the rafters of the Charlotte Coliseum on February 9, 2000, and the Hornets packed it up and brought it with them to the Crescent City two years later. It features the number 13, retired in honor of the late Bobby Phills.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Phills would star as a ballplayer at Southern University, but was only a second-round draft pick in 1991 and got cut without ever playing a game for the Bucks. The 6-5 two-guard then went the CBA route and did well enough to earn interest from the Cavaliers. He steadily worked his way into the rotation in Cleveland, and by the 1993-94 season he was a regular starter. Two years later he was well-known as a defensive stopper -- Micheal Jordan once listed Phills as one of the five best defensive players he ever faced -- while averaging 14.6ppg and shooting 44.1% from deep.

The Hornets came knocking in the '97 offseason and showed their faith in the free agent Phills by signing him to a seven-year, $33 million deal. He became a fixture starting alongside David Wesley in the Charlotte backcourt. His peak in teal came in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, when he averaged 14.3 points, 4 boards and 3.5 assists. Early the following season, Phills approached Hornets head coach Paul Silas and suggested that he shift to a reserve role, a move which would allow both Anthony Mason and Derrick Coleman to start. Silas initially declined the offer, then reconsidered when the Hornets began the season 5-4. Phills would thrive as a sixth man, anchoring the second unit and helping develop young players such as the rookie Baron Davis.

And then, on January 12th, 2000, Bobby Phills left the Hornets' morning shootaround with David Wesley, both players driving Porsches. A few miles down the road, Phills lost control of his vehicle and crossed into oncoming traffic. The result was a three-car collision, and Phills was pronounced dead at the scene. A police report said that Phills and Wesley were driving "erratic, reckless, careless, in a negligent or aggressive manner," and they were "involved in a speed competition." Wesley later was convicted of reckless driving after being cleared of a racing charge. Phills left behind his brother, parents, wife and two young kids.

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