Back in the summer of 2004, Knight was hoping for a lifeline after seven seasons in the NBA. The best offer was a non-guaranteed contract from the first-year Bobcats, with $25,000 up front and $75,000 if he made the season-opening roster.

"It was tough for my family's sake more than for me," Knight said. "I always felt like my skills and my talent warranted me being in the league and it was just a matter of getting that opportunity."

The money amounted to not even one-tenth of the minimum salary for a veteran like Knight. But he did more than just make the team in Charlotte. Knight averaged 10.1 points and 9.0 assists as a full-time starter with the overachieving Bobcats.

"I think it was the most freedom that I had in my career to just go out and play," said Knight, who will return to Charlotte tonight with the Jazz, "and lead a group of young guys that were just hungry to play, and we had fun doing it.

"I think we were only supposed to win 10 games that first year with the group that we had, and then I wasn't even supposed to really play that much, but it turned out to work for the best. It definitely jump-started me. It's like a new career for me."

An original Bobcat, Knight still makes his home in Charlotte. The expansion Bobcats were largely anonymous other than Emeka Okafor - Primoz Brezec, Jason Hart, Keith Bogans and Melvin Ely were regulars - but they finished 18-64 and out of last place.

Knight spent two more seasons in Charlotte - the team went on to win 26 and 33 games during that time - and still thanks Bernie Bickerstaff, the Bobcats' first coach and general manager, for the opportunity to play.

"I'll always be indebted to him because there was no one else that thought I should have been still playing, but he thought that I still had a chance," Knight said.

Only three of Knight's expansion teammates (Okafor, Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll) remain. As the Bobcats wait for top draft picks Adam Morrison, Raymond Felton and Sean May to come into their own, Knight is convinced the team will be embraced.

"Winning cures everything," Knight said, "and it's just a matter of them getting an identity and becoming as much a part of the community as they can and let people know that they are what the city is."

After coming to the Jazz in a July trade with the Clippers, Knight has embraced playing for a contender. He has been to the playoffs only twice in his 11-year career, but can expect a return as Deron Williams' backup in Utah.

"An expansion team is just trying to play hard, give the people a good product every night," Knight said. "This is a legit chance to win a championship. Not to say it's more serious than it was there, but I just think when you have those expectations, it makes it a little more serious."

With Williams returning from a sprained left ankle this week, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has been juggling point guards. Ronnie Price has been the first point guard off the bench in the first half of the last two games, with Knight first off the bench in the second half.

"I'm kind of caught between a rock and hard place there," Sloan said. "Brevin seems to be able to run the show a little bit better and I sure like what Ronnie Price has tried to do for us and help us, trying to keep him involved in the game as much as I can."

rsiler@sltrib.com

Where they are now

Brevin Knight started for the expansion Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004-05 season. A look at where some of his teammates have wound up in the basketball world:

Player / Team

Emeka Okafor / Charlotte

Primoz Brezec / Virtus Roma

Gerald Wallace / Charlotte

Jason Hart / L.A. Clippers

Keith Bogans / Orlando

Melvin Ely / New Orleans

Jason Kapono / Toronto