"CAROLINA THUNDER" How acquired: Drafted in the first round in 1991 (first selection). While the Charlotte Hornets mulled their options on the first pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, a poll taken by the Charlotte Observer asked readers to vote for the players they wanted the Hornets to pick. Dikembe Mutombo was the overwhelming choice. Larry Johnson edged Billy Owens for second. Charlotte fans can thank the Hornets front office for not listening. The Hornets chose Johnson with the first pick and he has been paying dividends ever since. Larry finished his first season 11th in the NBA in rebounding (11 per game) and averaged 19.7 points per game. Johnson has quickly developed into an NBA superstar, even to the point of getting his own commercial for a sneaker company featuring his "Grandmama". He easily captured the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year award. "You can now consider him one of the elite players in the league, in that special handful," Homets' coach Allan Bristow said. "Not only in how he's played, but how he's brought us in a new direction. It's not only his talent, it's his leadership." That rumbling in the Charlotte Coliseum these days is "Carolina Thunder" - Larry Johnson in charge.