Notable North Carolina Professional Athletes
Chris Paul (Winston-Salem)
Chris Paul is an NBA point guard from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Before being drafted in 2005, Paul spent two years playing basketball at Wake Forest University. He was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets, who are now known as the Charlotte Hornets, during their temporary relocation to New Orleans. While he has played for seven teams, currently the San Antonio Spurs, none of them were in his home state of North Carolina.
Richard Petty (Level Cross)
Richard Petty, a North Carolina stock car racer, was born in Level Cross. He has a large number of achievements under his belt including his large number of NASCAR. Petty shares the record for the most NASCAR Cup Series Championships with Dale Earnhardt, a fellow North Carolinian, and Jimmie Johnson. His last race was in 1992, the Hooters 500, and he has earned his nickname “The King.”
Julius Peppers (Wilson)
Julius Peppers is a Defensive end Linebacker from Wilson, North Carolina. He spent three years playing for the University of North Carolina before being drafted 2nd overall in 2002. Peppers played for the Carolina Panthers until 2009, returning to Carolina again in 2017 for one final season. After 16 years of professional football, Peppers retired after the 2018 season.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. (Kannapolis)
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was a professional stock car driver born in Kannapolis, North Carolina. His first race was in Charlotte at the 1975 World 600 and his last was the Daytona 500 in 2001. Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in an accident at the 2001 Daytona 500 due to a three-car crash at only 49 years old. His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., takes after his father and carries along his legacy as one of the most popular professional athletes from North Carolina.
Carl Eller (Winston-Salem)
Carl Eller, a Winston-Salem native, is a former Defensive end who played in the NFL for 15 years. He played nearly all of his career (1964-1978) with the Minnesota Vikings, eventually retiring with the Seattle Seahawks after less than a year. After retiring from football, Eller went back to school and obtained a degree in Human Services. Both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame honor him.
Bobby Bell (Shelby)
Bobby Bell is a former American football linebacker from Shelby, North Carolina. “He played his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted him in 1963. After retiring in 1974, Bell secured his place in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. He settled in Kansas City, Missouri, and opened Bobby Bell’s Bar-b-que.
Enos Slaughter (Durham)
Enos Slaughter, also known as “Country,” was born in Roxboro, North Carolina. Slaughter was an MLB right fielder for 21 years, retiring in 1959. In his 21 years of professional baseball, Slaughter played for five teams before retiring in Durham, North Carolina. He coached Duke baseball from 1971 to 1977 and helped with other local organizations.
Raymond Floyd (Fort Bragg)
Professional golfer, Raymond Floyd, was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His father, a soldier in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, and Floyd started his gold career at the enlisted men’s course. He attended UNC Chapel Hill for one semester before starting his professional golfing career. He has won many notable tournaments including the Masters (1976), PGA (1969 and 1982), and the U.S. Open (1986). He officially retired in 2010 after nearly 50 years of playing and is notable for North Carolina professional athletes.
James Worthy (Gastonia)
James Worth is a retired professional basketball player born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina. He lived in North Carolina until the 1982 draft when the Lakers selected him 1st overall out of college. His playing career lasted 12 years in which he received many awards and honors with the Los Angeles Lakers. Both his UNC Chapel Hill jersey (52) and Los Angeles Lakers jersey (42) numbers have been retired.