CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets will retire former point guard Muggsy Bogues’ No. 1 jersey during a halftime ceremony on Feb. 11, 2027, at Spectrum Center, the team said in a Tuesday news release.
The organization announced the honor for the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Bogues will become the third player in franchise history to have his number retired, joining Bobby Phills (No. 13) and Dell Curry (No. 30).
Bogues, an original member of the franchise selected in the 1988 NBA Expansion Draft, played 10 seasons in Charlotte from 1988 to 1998. At 5-foot-3, he is the shortest player in NBA history.
More than 632 games with the Hornets, Bogues averaged 8.8 points, 8.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He retired as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists with 5,557, assists per game at 8.8, steals with 1,067 and minutes played at 19,768.
Hornets Co-Chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin praised Bogues for his impact on the franchise and community.
“Honoring the players who helped build this franchise is an important part of our commitment to Hornets history,” Schnall and Plotkin said in a joint statement. “Muggsy was here from the beginning and played with a heart, toughness and competitive spirit that made him a fan favorite. At 5-foot-3, he overcame obstacles throughout his career and proved he belonged among the best players in the world. He became a role model for generations, showing young people that their size doesn’t have to limit what they can achieve. His accomplishments on the court and commitment to Charlotte have made him a beloved part of this organization. We look forward to celebrating Muggsy with our fans and raising No. 1 to the rafters of Spectrum Center.”
Bogues, who spent more than two decades affiliated with the franchise as a player and ambassador, reflected on the recognition.
“Charlotte has been home to me and my family for so many years and the support I’ve received from Hornets fans has meant everything to me,” Bogues said. “To have my number retired alongside Bobby and Dell is an incredible honor. I’m grateful to Rick and Gabe, the organization, my teammates and coaches and everyone who has been part of this journey. I can’t wait to share this night with my family and the fans who have been with us since the beginning.”
During his decade in Charlotte, Bogues helped guide the team to three 50-plus win seasons, a franchise-best 54-28 record in the 1996-97 season and four playoff appearances, including the team’s first postseason series win in 1993. When he retired after 14 NBA seasons, he ranked 12th in league history with 6,726 career assists. His career assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.69 remains the highest in NBA history among top 100 career assist leaders, the team said in the news release.
Bogues also became a global cultural figure during the franchise’s formative years alongside teammates Curry, Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning. Off the court, Bogues appeared in the 1996 movie “Space Jam,” made an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” on Sept. 25, 1993 and published an autobiography titled “In the Land of Giants” in 1994.
Following his NBA career, Bogues remained in Charlotte and served as head coach of the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting from 2005 to 2006 and the United Faith Christian Academy boys basketball team from 2011 to 2014.
Through the Muggsy Bogues Family Foundation, he provides food assistance, educational resources and trade scholarships to local families. In 2026, he received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award from the Urban League of Central Carolinas.
Born Tyrone Curtis Bogues in Baltimore, he starred at Dunbar High School before attending Wake Forest University, where he remains the program’s all-time leader in assists and steals. Forest retired his No. 14 jersey in 1987 and Bogues was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in January 2020.
The jersey retirement ceremony will take place at halftime on Feb. 11, 2027, when the Hornets host the Bucks at Spectrum Center. Tickets for the game are available through the team’s website.
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