You'll discover names such as Courtney Alexander, Baron Davis, George Lynch, Robert Traylor, Speedy Claxton, Dan Dickau, Lee Nailon, Bostjan Nachbar, Jackson Vroman, Arvydas Macijauskas, Moochie Norris, Linton Johnson III and Desmond Mason.

And David West.

It's difficult to conceive of West being the Hornets' elder statesman this season, a role once defined by West's first professional mentor, Louisiana native P.J. Brown.

But as each new face on this season's roster discovered, West was the go-to guy for the survival guidebook, the all-important scouting report on Coach Byron Scott.

"I've been with coach the longest," said West, the Hornets' first-round draft choice in 2003, the year before Scott signed on as the team's head coach. "I know what he expects, what he wants. I just try to make sure the guys understand that. He's demanding, but he's going to give us a lot of freedom on the flip side. Guys know that.

"I think that's what they're looking to me for. I've been with him for six or seven years. You've just got to understand the type of guy he is. He's going to get it out of you, but at the same time he's going to allow you the freedom and the space to be a ballplayer and be the player that you are."

Now entering his seventh NBA season, with two All-Star appearances on his r?sum?, West has grown into his role as the ranking Hornets player, having endured the agony of an 18-64 season, two storm-induced years in Oklahoma City exile, three unsuccessful playoff appearances, one coaching change and three losing seasons.

Where once there was a quietly reticent player whose skills were evident but unrefined, West is now an established NBA star who has become accustomed to being the man to whom newcomers flock for the team's inside knowledge.

And though he might have been uncomfortable in that role when he came into the league, he has seemingly embraced his status as a team leader.

"I just think just naturally being somebody who has been here in the organization as long as I have, guys who are unfamiliar with some of the coaches, or even coach himself, they want to get an in and make sure they're not doing anything to hurt their chances of getting on the floor," West said.

"My advice to all of them, especially the young guys, is to go out there and compete. At some point in time throughout the year, we're going to need everybody to contribute and play well."

West learned the ropes from Brown, a quiet professional whose off-the-court kindness was legendary, but his on-court attitude was aggressively businesslike and usually well-controlled.

Yet West doesn't believe his demeanor mirrors Brown's in part because his intensity bubbles at a constant simmer.

"Not yet. Not yet," West said emphatically. "P.J. was a little more, I don't know exactly what the word I'm looking for is, but I think he was a little more reserved than I am. Less direct. P.J. is a lot more reserved. You had to get deep to get that (anger) out of him. You don't have to go that deep with me."

Fellow All-Star Chris Paul, who has played with West the longest since joining the Hornets in 2005, has experienced West's darker side and agrees with his teammate.

"D-West is always angry," Paul said, half in jest, half seriously. "He is. P.J. was reserved, pretty cool and a nice guy. D-West is angry. All the time. And if he doesn't know you, he ain't fooling with you."

Experience, West said, has helped him keep his emotions in check.

"In the game situation," he said, "it's a fine line you walk. You can go from being in control to losing it. You just have to have patience."

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Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3814.