Before the Charlotte Hornets took the nation by storm with their flashy color scheme, there was the Carolina Cougars. The Carolina Cougars of the ABA (American Basketball Association) were the first professional basketball team in Charlotte. Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Jim Gardner brought them to North Carolina in 1969. They existed as a regional team between Charlotte, the Piedmont Triad and the Research Triangle.
Notable Highlights:
- Larry Brown (yes the same one that Coached the Bobcats from 2008-2010) was one of coaches of this franchise.
- Greensboro had one of the most loyal fanbases in all of the ABA.