Baron Davis got his career jump-started with the Hornets franchise beginning with their relocation in 2002-03. He was taken No. 3 overall in the 1999 NBA Draft out of UCLA by the original Charlotte Hornets. After playing a backup role, he emerged as an NBA All-Star.
He appeared in 50 games for New Orleans during the 2002-03 NBA season, putting up 17.1 points, 6.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest on 35 percent shooting from behind the arc. The following season, he averaged a career-high 22.9 points per game along with 7.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and a league-leading 2.4 steals per contest.
Davis began to show his prowess as floor general on one end and a pest on the other with the second NBA All-Star Game appearance of his career during the 2003-04 campaign. He made a career-high 2.8 3-pointers per game, while shooting 32.1 percent from 3-point range.
Davis made a career-high seven 3-pointers in a battle with the Indiana Pacers back on Nov. 21, 2003, that ended in a 76-75 loss. While the Hornets lost, it showed just how valuable Davis would become in his career in the near future.
The following season, he dished out a personal-best 17 assists in a 121-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings. The victory snapped a 10-game losing skid for the Hornets.
After 18 games with the Hornets during the 2004-05 NBA season, Davis was traded to the Golden State Warriors for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. Through 136 appearances (126 starts) in New Orleans, Davis averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals per contest.