Raymond Felton was selected 5th in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats following his junior year at North Carolina. His rookie season in Charlotte he averaged 12 pts, fourth for rookies, and nearly 6 assts per game, second in the league for rookies, shooting 36% from long range. He scored a career high 31 pts at Phoenix on February 26, 2006, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He was also named the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month three consecutive months in the Eastern Conference.

In his junior year at UNC he was a member of the Division I National Championship team averaging 13 pts and 7 assts per game. He also received First Team All ACC Honors. During his sophomore year he was a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Award and Third Team All ACC. Felton was the only freshmen in UNC history to receive team MVP honors.