So far in the New Orleans Pelicans by the Numbers series we have seen a fairly bad group of numbers overall. What most numbers had going for them though was that almost all of them had at least one productive player to have worn them throughout their history. For the first time though we hit a number that doesn’t really have that in its history in the number 12.
The First to Wear #12: Kenny Anderson, 2003
The Most Recent to Wear #12: Terrel Harris, 2012
The #12s in Between: Chris Anderson (2005-2006), Hilton Armstrong (2006-2009), Donald Sloan (2011), Trey Johnson (2012)
As can be seen from the list above the number 12s in New Orleans history are awful. The number started circulation with Kenny Anderson in 2003, one of the final seasons of Anderson’s career. Anderson played just 23 games for the Hornets that season, averaging 19.4 minutes per game while adding 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds off the bench as veteran leader.
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From Anderson the number jumped to the most successful player to wear the number 12 in franchise history in Chris “Birdman” Anderson. Anderson did his normal high-energy, flying around the floor thing for two seasons in the blue and gold but was nothing more than solid during them, with highs of 21.3 minutes, 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds coming in the second year in the 12.
Anderson eventually moved to the number 1 for the Hornets which cleared the way for Hilton Armstrong to take a few years in the 12. Armstrong never lived up to the billing as the number 12 pick overall for the Hornets though and left after three seasons with then career highs of 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in his final season in New Orleans.
After Armstrong finally left New Orleans Donald Sloan, Trey Johnson and Terrel Harris all took incredibly short shots sticking with the franchise in the number 12, though none were able to stick. Sloan lasted just three games in New Orleans before moving on, Johnson lasted just 11 in his final NBA stint and Harris lasted 13 in his so far final NBA stint, rounding out an awful career for the number 12 in New Orleans.
For the first time in the countdown a number has been reached that has no real redeeming quality. Chris Anderson was a fine player for his time in New Orleans but the numbers he posted in his best season in the number 12 are not enough to save it from an otherwise awful history.