Larry Johnson's beef with Alonzo Mourning included a sad Hornets mural and a weird Knicks-Heat fight

The 1992-93 Hornets won 44 games and a first round series behind the combined powers of Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, both barely out of college. Five years later, they'd wind up throwing punches - as members of the Knicks and Heat, respectively.
So what the hell happened?
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[@keysersoze6330]

Why was pat riley never in a mafia film in the 90s ? He has the face and charisma. Imagine al pacino, robert de niro and pat riley in a film

[@tommyproductionz2159]

Keyser Söze probably because he’s not an actor

[@andrewbean24.2]

Lol ironically one actor who played a mobster, modeled himself after riley

[@SerlingPictures]

HoopFellas

[@Martin-Querns]

@@SerlingPictures 😂😂

[@RenaldyCalixte]

In the 2004 The Batman animated series. Mobster Tony Zucco (the guy who killed the 1st Robin's parents) looks like Pat Riley.

[@avatarhzh5035]

"If you're not a Knicks fan, first of all, congratulations" Bruh that's the funniest thing I've heard all week.

[@dar2889]

Avatar_hzh being a knicks fan is hard man

[@SilkReece]

I'm a hornets fan and this was tear inducing

[@fegismcclaren1632]

Avatar_hzh I would rather be a Knicks fan then a Magic fan

[@manchesterunitedno7]

As long as Knicks owner still Dolan Duck, yeah...

[@JamesSmith-jd1do]

Avatar_hzh not if you’re a Knicks fan like myself

[@juiceticetv]

I'm glad the beef didn't affect NBA Jam, because that duo was the best!

[@Publicenemy85]

Toughest team to beat in that game.

[@alfonsorodriguez9055]

@@Publicenemy85 you're not lying

[@firstinpeace]

Yeah they were a lot better than the Christian Laettner/Isaiah Rider T'Wolves combo.

[@souljabythelake5799]

@MUFC soccer is gay

[@blazer6248]

Best basketball game EVER!

[@Redfoot138]

I think the beef goes back even further. One of my enduring memories from the NCAA tournament was in 1991 when UNLV beat Georgetown in the second round. Alonzo was clearly distraught at the end, face buried in his hands, on the verge of weeping. Who tries to get in his face smirking and grinning? LJ.

[@igraham125]

🎯

[@bagofgroceries]

Alonzo ended up getting the last laugh, he’s got a ring.

[@andresdelportillo9917]

@@bagofgroceriescharity ring , Knicks got robbed in 99 , while Miami got bailed out by the refs

[@Laf92]

God, those Miami, Knicks playoff series were awesome

[@82panther]

Brutal blood fests!

[@Official_Kings_Versus]

True 💯😎

[@ishmaeldarjean2757]

I'm gonna disagree and say Knick/Bulls were a step above the Heat/Knick playoff battles. Both had their moments but the Knick/Bulls featured the element of surprise when you had Starks, Mason, Oakley all battling against Jordan and Pippen.

[@SidJustice1]

Absolute wars.

[@RGTitan901]

Yeah they were

[@carolinaman1460]

Larry and Alonzo two great Hornets players wish we didn't lose them

[@mildredvason5281]

Carolina Man Knicks if they don't draft players they don't know where they go . I hate Knicks . where Rose at

[@sabi2955]

All I feel is pain. Hopefully melo and the guys will lift me out of my slumber

[@AirRusher1992]

George Shinn is greedy and selfish and this makes him the most hated person in Charlotte. Man I hate that guy. On the bright side, he's no longer part of the NBA anymore. Fun Factoid: George Shinn has never returned to Charlotte since he relocate the original Hornets to New Orleans.

[@tylerriley2587]

@@AirRusher1992 after the 84 million contract he chose not to pay his guys what was needed to keep them or resign them

[@timothymuldoon8473]

Every says Zion in the next LeBron ... Ive been saying since day 1 ... He's Larry Johnson

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Facts. He'll start out hot but by Year 4 of his career he will be slowed by injuries.

[@kevinplourde389]

Listen I am by far not the biggest LeBron fan but from what I've seen is Zion is not the next big thing he's undisciplined , fat in the off-season he's never going to be one of the next big thing in the NBA unless you talking about Weight Wise

[@fttime9746]

Now you my friend are correct he's no dam leborn those who seen unlv Lj know what a beast he was.

[@jahthouzan]

Renaldy Calixte Zion and Jackson hayes is the next Alonzo and Larry

[@timothymuldoon8473]

@@jahthouzan i am going to go ahead and assume you never saw Mourning play

[@dkapone]

Charlotte Hornets.....best uniforms at the time in the league! Peace.

[@returnofthemack6295]

dkapone they really need to go back to those uniforms

[@gtavsmsg10]

Either that or the Phoenix Suns, especially the alternative black one.

[@ShortSight32]

Their uniforms rn are fire asf tho too

[@SerlingPictures]

Raptors, Hawks, Magic had the best 90s jerseys

[@blackwulf8793]

Best uniforms all time

[@gunhooaciel]

The biggest loser in this beef are the hornets.. they didnt took advantage of mj’s retirement and lost their 2 stars. Smh

[@TravJam317]

Man, Mourning was never gonna stay. He didn't even want to play here to begin with. He didn't sign his rookie contract until a day or two before the regular season began, meaning he didn't even play a pre-season game. Mourning was a great player, but I'm happy with what we got in Rice and Geiger for him. I was a huge LJ fan and hated that his back was holding him down.

[@darylwoodard1054]

@@TravJam317 If they had the right mediator, that could have had a couple of championships. At least they are somewhat cool.

[@tedramsay3741]

We lost Kobe at the same time we could have had bogues Kobe gill Johnson mourning

[@RenaldyCalixte]

@@tedramsay3741 And now you gonna lose Kemba Walking another star from the Big East/Northeastern United States.

[@BrandanTheBroker]

Mourning and Johnson wasn't gonna work even if you gave them both max contracts, who team was it? With Chicago you knew who team it was, same with Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, Indiana.

[@JrRimp]

That fight was tough to watch because I loved the Hornets in the 90s with Zo, LJ, Muggsy, Gill, etc

[@craigprice1598]

, I know right, all broken up cuz of ego.

[@zerimar26]

Yeah I thought that team and the Orlando Magic would be the top teams contending for championship as soon as Jordan retired. Didn't happen except for Jordan's retirement.

[@jimbrown5091]

The 90's era Hornets were the love of my life (I was in my teens when the Hornets had their inaugural season). They. Broke. My. Heart.

[@personne7542]

That '92-93 team really leveled up with an exciting brand of ball built on the latest 3 first round picks. Special. But those young egos messed it up. At least they were able to turn those guys into other good players and have winning seasons.

[@DabbyLarson]

As a 32 year old Kings fan, I can relate.

[@eliebechara3811]

Hornets and Knicks have failed miserably since that era...

[@bj231217]

Elie BECHARA can you not remind us

[@manchesterunitedno7]

Yet somehow Heat came out on top and laughing all the way to 3 chips.

[@eliebechara3811]

Brian Fantana yep lol

[@chuyozuna2398]

Elie BECHARA lol the hornets have been a failed franchise

[@granteddd]

hornets have always failed :(

[@emanuelnicholson8423]

I had a Larry Johnson Hornets jersey and shorts set. It was my favorite outfit in 9th grade.

[@jjcuny]

Emanuel Nicholson I had one of their warm up jackets, and all of their jerseys. The purple Zo one was my fave

[@82panther]

@@jjcuny I had a purple one LJ jersey too. Man, their jerseys were dope back in the day. I also had two caps, a basketball, a mini basket and a knit that still exists.

[@fuckthechinesevirus9462]

I have his Knicks uniform. I bought it after his four point play vs Indiana

[@DrawItTooTV]

"A turducken of beeves." LOLed at that one.

[@dannypulliam3157]

I miss these Hornets uniforms

[@Champwsox05]

Some of the best the NBA has ever seen, all three of them. Teal, purple, and white.

[@01dirtydirk]

I had the cream white cap with a teal brim... one of the freshest of hats!!

[@dantegood2195]

Their uniforms are back to being great again

[@jackmcenery1444]

As a teenage Knicks fan, everyday I wish I was born about 15 years earlier just to see 90s basketball, hockey and baseball. The 90s were great for rangers, Knicks, Yankees and giants fans, like me

[@lawrencegervasio7363]

dont forget the Buffalo Bills

[@emutv4100]

@@lawrencegervasio7363 oh yeah im a bills fan now, it doesnt sucks at least

[@82panther]

I am a Knicks fan and i am almost 40 years old (38 exactly). I agree that it was fun to be able to witness 90's basketball, but it's also sad if you have to go back then to find a great Knicks team, because they are a mess for about 20 years now.

[@Hazztech]

Yankees good now

[@ClutchCityFan]

That rivalry was 🔥🔥🔥

[@StudioThirtyEight]

Fight? That was a slap box.

[@charlesconner9044]

Fools get drunk and wanna compete Slap boxing in the street...- Ice Cube

[@joshuacruz4244]

Haha true a slap box

[@chrisl5711]

Charlotte's team with Zo and Larry are still the best duo ever on NBA Jam.

[@bradfordhenderson8917]

The cheesiest pair way before the warriors on 2k myplayer series.

[@southbeachtalent]

I dunno.... Barkley and KJ were pretty damn good

[@evanschmitt2830]

Y'all are forgetting Karl Malone and John Stockton

[@M1lesJames]

Naw Seattle Supersonics Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton was the team to pick

[@bobbyrasmussen1703]

Drexler and Porter were good too, as well as Thomas and Laimbeer but my go to is always Anderson and Grant

[@ramblinman07]

This video makes me nostalgic. What if LJ stayed healthy? What if the Hornets paid Zo? What if Kobe wasn't traded?

[@Querymonger]

Kobe was never gonna play for us, his trade was inevitable

[@redpepperdave]

Man it's been tough being a Knicks fan, I hope we can get back into the playoffs in the next few years.

[@ghostballs1874]

I think it happened I don’t pay attention to the eastern conference

[@mickswagger6086]

Hi

[@burritojack893]

That Hornet team was damn near unstoppable on old school NBA JAM.

[@B0MB.C0M]

I died when you put the hornets up and said Steph’s dad and literally 5’3

[@SlimReaperMuayThai]

12 year 84 million. Now you got scrubs who be getting 4 year 118 million contracts

[@rodprops]

WORD!!

[@ramonboyd1435]

84 million back then is 200+ now with inflation think min. Wage was 3bucks now 7-8 bucks

[@ramonboyd1435]

I would rather get 50million contract in Texas then 100 million in LA. Or New York they got 4 taxes get over half your $$

[@rodprops]

@@ramonboyd1435 minimum wage is $15 in NY

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Otto Porter Jr.

[@77littlegk]

The beef actually started in college and you can see it start to unfold during the Georgetown game in the ncaa tournament

[@keithdemolder6070]

This was probably the best beef history I've watched. You guys always do a swell job of contextualizing the stories. Not to mention, these graphics/visuals are awesome.

[@toppdogg2815]

You missed one important aspect. Alonzo's future wife Tracey who was from Vegas and as we all know Larry Johnson went to UNLV. Connect the dots from there

[@theokuo8850]

Beef history my favorite series

[@ChiGuy251]

That Hornets team was fun to watch too bad Zo and LJ couldn't make it work.

[@BAE51C]

kendall gill too

[@itmejac6945]

BAE51C everyone forgets about him

[@user-lb2kv6rk3n]

Ya ah 2 of you

[@psy2mentor]

Dell was always good for a spark when needed, too!

[@danielwalker4881]

ChiGuy251 Yep don’t leave out Mr. Gill! I mean that team was really good, and so fun to watch! I had a front row seat for it all...Charlotte Hornet Ballboy 1990-1994! A better coach would have done wonders for that team!

[@jpmnky]

In 1993 these two were the future man. Things never turn out the way you think.

[@personne7542]

So true.

[@HippoCowHD]

being a hornets fan isn’t easy

[@adamprice6000]

HippoCow The Bobcats years were hellish

[@ryanhughes9291]

at least we got the Panthers

[@ShortSight32]

Honestly

[@goinghardinthepaint9284]

😔😔😔😔

[@C_O_W_B_O_Y_J]

I mean we had kemba

[@Shonan2024]

You have to go back to the UNLV and G-Town game when Larry Johnson was pouring it and taunting Mourning.

[@BrianSmith-wk9pv]

Finally someone who knows how it began

[@mikeyp413]

You guys gotta do Kobe and Shaq

[@eboooo]

Mike Power for sure! !!!!

[@anggaihza3074]

1 hour long special episode!

[@bibitsurawan]

soft

[@MrMiD.Life.Crisis]

@@JohnnyTiDo werent they at odds before the Colorado business?? Or was that just the press hyping up a story out of nothing?? Whether you get on with a team-mate or not, throwing Shaq under the bus like that was pretty low. Then throw Malone into that mix - trying to get at Kobes wife. Could you imagine the atmosphere in that locker room...?? Hope everyones good.

[@ProducerMD]

Shaq & Chuck lol

[@AnthonyAnalog]

"It's John Time." ACTUAL TEARS LOLOLOLOLOL

[@OneHourShower]

That’s so awesome that you listened to your fans Seth and made more of these videos. They’re incredible dude.

[@sketcharmstrong8491]

Seeing Kobe in that Hornets draft hat was a surreal moment of surreal moments.....

[@emorydaniel9084]

As a 90's kid growing up in North Carolina, everything about this video hurts.

[@TateMane]

This series is so lit

[@teesaifele9391]

I'm from Charlotte NC... And Hugo leaving to New Orleans is trufully sad 😔

[@goinghardinthepaint9284]

😪😪😪😪😪

[@SweatpantsPG]

Wtf is trufully?

[@tylerriley2587]

@@SweatpantsPG blame George Shinn he was so greedy cheap and selfish

[@benrivera2252]

SB nation stays with the great content. This was awesome.

[@kenobibryant1637]

5'3'' Mugsy Bogues "And me!" Tell me you didn't say that in his voice

[@HiHi-gg8qy]

Totally the most underrated channel

[@goodfellabeats]

I love these basketball beef history. Please keep making them!

[@moseschannel90]

These videos are fantastic. Please keep them coming.

[@Publicenemy85]

The story of Morning-Johnson is actually typical whenever teams rebuild through high draft picks. Too many egos and after a few good seasons you run through a brick wall with the salary cap.

[@tylerriley2587]

Forgetting you have more players to pay on the team and not just one Shinn should’ve paid Zo what he wanted or just give him the 84 million deal instead of giving it to Larry it was a waste of time and money

[@JoeyAmor]

8:45 😂😂😂 Then you see Hugo rockin New Orleans right after! Lol

[@AxeMan808]

THIS. I was gonna post it but I figured SOMEONE caught that. I had to pause.

[@tylerriley2587]

Blame Shinn and Woolridge

[@draven_kx7]

Yes I was waiting for a new Beef History video, love these videos

[@cliftoncowan5565]

I love this beef series bro...great stuff!!

[@pauldack5129]

You didn't even mention the fact that Zo's GF and later his wife, is from Vegas, went to UNLV during the LJ-Stacey Augmon Final Four years and reportedly "dated" LJ or Stacey ,I forgot which one. Hell, maybe it was both ? This is a long standing rumor here in Vegas , I went to college then as well and everyone knew the players back then. They were active in "campus life " lol. They were good guys if you ask me, but they were treated like rockstars by most people in Vegas and all the young ladies at UNLV knew exactly who these guys were and where they were going after graduation (yes , LJ, Stacey and Greg Anthony all graduated).

[@RLPerez-un6hv]

Wow awesome

[@returnofthemack6295]

It’s sucks the hornets still haven’t retired Larry Johnson and Alonzo mourning number yet even though mourning number is retire with the heat

[@basketballjones]

Thank you for this; great work

[@chriscorcione8104]

Born and raised in Vegas, all my fam is from Queens,NY so I'm the biggest LJ FAN EVER!!! When he got traded to NY it was like Christmas! Great job on all these videos!

[@ZEAH4]

Hurts for us hornets fans

[@clubberlang3742]

Larry the only person in the league that didn’t fear Oakley lol

[@henrywood1304]

“If you’re not a Knicks a fan, first of all, congratulations.” A+ line

[@guts2k3]

The heat vs knicks rivalry put a lot of dagger in my heart back then. Im just glad though that zo was able to win a title.

[@guts2k3]

same here 😁

[@choochoo2348]

Thanks for reminding me what was the true reason for the fight

[@LawrenceW78]

The Hornets of the 90s should go down as one the great tragedies of the NBA, so much talent unfortunately pissed away, they couldve been champions had they stayed together and grown up a little bit

[@LT-dj8if]

Great piece bruh!!!

[@mikebozeman5668]

i LOVE your stuff. just found it and binge watching. you my friend do an amazing job

[@paulpheonix8840]

12 years 84 million? That’s an indentured servant contract.

[@RKO859]

Name me a slave job that gets paid $84 millions USD.

[@BadTV1993]

Paul Phoenix is really Latrell Spreewell

[@spurs4life810]

Jack Liu r/whoosh

[@kevinmcclintock5492]

i will be an indentured servant for 84 million any day. Where do I sign??

[@emutv4100]

@@RKO859 except an indentured wasnt a slave

[@michaelnwosa4697]

Bruhh this channel is so underrated, Im in love with all of your videos great content

[@mma364]

Need more of these videos!

[@RuffHouse862]

I subscribed as soon as you said u were a Knicks fan. Good man. Great series. #Knicks4Life

[@eundoparkmusic]

Larry Johnson was also a boxer. I would never want to go swings with him

[@DJLukk4]

Eundo Park doesn't look like one with all those swings he missed

[@manchesterunitedno7]

LeBron James it's NBA swings. None of them want to connect with each other swing punches for some reasons: None of them wants to get their hands injured in a sport where your hands are your most precious weapons. The last time NBA players knocked out each other silly, it proved to be near fatal incident. (read Rudy Tomjanovich story).

[@loganhiltibidal799]

Brian Fantana Either you have no idea how the Rudy story went or your trolling.

[@manchesterunitedno7]

MYJEEP GOSKEEERT either you are too young, or you are too gullible to understand.

[@lanegarciasplashsquadfan7716]

LeBron James Lebron stfu you’ve never gotten in a fight

[@eliebechara3811]

Interesting History!

[@davilanavarro5121]

Thank you for these informational videos,assumed it would be another none informed commentary but this is good...keep up the good work #SBNation

[@swagzilla3000]

This series is amazing

[@hrtvfan2870]

4:00 Getting called the team leader by the owner and then the #2 guy in the team hierarchy saying you're not even the best player on the team. How's that for mixed signals?

[@rohanverma1825]

LJ is soon underrated

[@onlyone23km]

Better than LeBron, if you ask me.

[@12savage68]

onlyone23km good thing nobody asked you

[@boknoycobomb3180]

onlyone23km hahahaha better than lebron ?

[@onlyone23km]

Absolutely!

[@arizonaFIREent]

onlyone23km I hate Lebron and like LJ but that is just a ridiculous statement

[@edluisrivera3317]

Great video dude

[@jakejohnson7056]

These videos are very entertaining

[@N0V403]

Larry Johnson is the best player that ever played for Charlotte! Most underrated star of the 90’s

[@WestCoastOnePride]

No way, easily zo

[@tylerriley2587]

Shinn was crazy when he said that

[@jcsalty457]

I am a proud knick fan.

[@robinorchard8401]

I was just wondering about this duo and wondering why it didn't work! That was exactly the info I was looking for, thank you!

[@redpepperdave]

Great... Another trip down memory lane. Thanks guys 😒

[@bigbadbootydaddy0388]

Asheville, NC!! Stand up!!! #LandOfTheSky! 3:44

[@psy2mentor]

The Hornets were a fun team to watch! Dell and Mugsy were my favorites (and I think generally the fan favorites). George Shinn is a tool!

[@tylerriley2587]

Right after the trial things went south Jordan lobbied hard to become part owner of the Hornets Shinn put his foot down and that pissed the fans off instead he sold part of the Hornets to someone else named Ray Woolridge all could’ve been avoided if Shinn sold the team to MJ in 1999

[@82panther]

Great video.

[@KevinKwok123]

I love the beef history series. Mainly cause it's covering timelines like this one. So fun back in the day

[@shipofthesun]

...a turducken of beef..." You, sir or madame, have won the internets for today.

[@NukeTheWorld]

12 years 84mill. 7 years 105mill. These contracts sound idiotic.

[@RKO859]

I'm sure you're making anywhere close to that.

[@TommyP27]

I love these do more

[@Nate-ry5no]

This is like a rewind/beef history

[@cade75]

Jon Bois or riot

[@cactus1845]

Nagisa Furukawa i like this series but where in the hell is the jon bois

[@MrShanester117]

Nagisa Furukawa I love the one where he says “their are two different feelings about unions. Those who love them, and those who are douchebags” 😂🤣😂 I’m paraphrasing of course, but it was hilarious

[@THENBASTORYTELLER]

enjoy the stoyteller (that's my channel btw)

[@3tp]

"It's Paxson Time"

[@bullettomy7thheart]

Great video lads

[@bullettomy7thheart]

keep doing a lot more of these

[@phillipfoster1862]

Awesome vid.

[@capoballin2130]

Correction JOHNSON was drafted after UNLV lost to DUKE. 2. You forgot the COLLEGE GAME between G'TOWN AND UNLV where MOURNING FOULED out and JOHNSON waved in his face. I believe MOURNING was always mad about that moment where he felt disrespected

[@ooohdaddy212]

Hell yeah he was mad about that. LoL I still remember that game.

[@dkmrap1]

This is what would've happened in Orlando if they kept Chris Webber

[@tylerriley2587]

Egos?

[@malualmamer3852]

bro your video quality is fire

[@lancem3443]

Man I wish these 2 didn’t hate each other I loved both of them being a hornets fan

[@Ruben-wm7hx]

Soo Charlotte could’ve had Johnson Mourning and Kobe.....wow

[@itmejac6945]

Woulda been a dynasty

[@hehateme71]

If I’m not mistaken just LJ and and Kobe. At that point tho, LJ was just a shell of his younger days. Still young, in an old mans body.

[@ryansemrau7058]

That must be in the video. Vlade. Horrible trade

[@dusk6159]

Kobe wanted to play for the Lakers though, not an option, and definitely not stay with the drafting Hornets.

[@tylerriley2587]

@@dusk6159 vlade threatened to retire if deal goes through while Hornets were in need of a center at the time

[@AbzAden]

8:05 when ur girl trying to look sexy but it ain't happening

[@fathercringe6145]

And you preferred younger and blacker one

[@shangtsung1362]

@@fathercringe6145 And less hairy

[@pillarsofserpents]

great video.

[@titansrule72]

Lifelong Cavs fan, but man being a kid in the 90s almost automatically made me root for the Hornets on the side. They looked like such a fun young bunch and those uniforms!!!! They were yet another casualty of the Jordan Bulls. What could have been!

[@edavis2715]

and Kendall gill was fighting larry to

[@stylesprettyworkdetailing2543]

1 was scared and the other was glad of it lmao.. still don't make any since.. what say you?

[@pzooka]

Man I am digging this music in the background

[@chinaexpat1827]

80s-90s basketball was the absolute best