Despite averaging 20.9 points per game to lead the Southwest Conference as a senior at Baylor during the 1991-92 season, David Wesley went undrafted. He would find his way into the NBA during his age-23 season, playing 60 games for the New Jersey Nets. After his lone season in New Jersey, Wesley would play three seasons with the Boston Celtics before becoming a restricted free agent in the summer of 1997. Having just selected Chauncey Billups with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Boston was content to let Wesley walk in free agency, leading to him landing a seven-year $20.16 million deal with the Hornets.
In five seasons with the franchise before they relocated to New Orleans, Wesley was a durable starter and a consistent scorer.
In 362 games, Wesley made 358 starts, averaging 14.5 points, 5.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.2 blocks at the shooting guard position. After his time in New Orleans came to an end, Wesley spent his final years in the NBA between the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
Wesley announced his retirement in 2007, having amassed a career total of 11,842 points, one of the highest-ever marks for an undrafted player.
Throughout the season, Rookie Wire is documenting the jersey number history of the Charlotte Hornets
Previous: Tony Delk, Robert Parish, Spencer Hawes, Theron Smith, Jeff McInnis, Larry Hughes, Bismack Biyombo, Briante Weber, Miles Bridges, Muggsy Bogues, Baron Davis, Jason Hart, Ryan Hollins, Derek Anderson, Andre Brown, Cartier Martin, Stephen Jackson, Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, Malik Monk, LaMelo Ball, Larry Johnson, Dale Ellis, Scott Burrell, Melvin Ely, Dontell Jefferson, Acie Law, Shaun Livingston, DeSagana Diop, Marvin Williams, James Bouknight, Rex Chapman, Hersey Hawkins, Khalid Reeves, Eldridge Recasner, Gerald Wallace, Jeremy Lamb, Terry Rozier III, Marques Bolden, DaQuan Jeffries, Scott Haffner, Darrin Hancock
For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@BasketBaltes/videos
https://www.instagram.com/basketbaltes/
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Charlotte Hornets jersey history No. 4 David Wesley 1997-2002













