The Charlotte Hornets are retiring the No. 1 jersey of Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history, on Feb. 11.
The 5-foot-3 Bogues spent 10 of his 14 NBA seasons in Charlotte (1988-1998) and is the franchise leader in assists, steals and minutes.
"How ironic is that?" Bogues said. "After all those times that you felt like you were looking up, looking up for so many years, at people. Then here comes this particular moment, and when that jersey actually goes up it'll be like I'm the one looking down at the entire world. It's going to be a surreal moment."
Bogues, 61, has spent more than 20 years with the Hornets as a player and ambassador after initially joining the franchise in the 1988 expansion draft.
"Charlotte embraced me with open arms," Bogues said. "This is a place I've called home more than I've called any other place home, even growing up in the city of Baltimore. So, having this type of recognition for my family, for the organization to look at you in this type of light, I mean, it means the world."
Hornets owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin made the decision to retire Bogues' No. 1 to continue the organization's connectivity with its history and legends.
"I was just like any kid that had a dream," Bogues said. "I just kept believing and kept having success. And my mindset was, 'If you play against the best, and you have success against the best, you need to be included with the best.'"
Bogues joins Bobby Phills (No. 13) and Dell Curry (No. 30) as the only three players to have their jerseys retired for the Hornets.