It’s been a long hiring process from an outsider’s perspective, but the moment is finally here; the Charlotte Hornets have announced Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee as the franchise’s new head coach.
Lee will officially join the Hornets once Boston’s playoff run concludes. Prior to becoming the Celtics’ top assistant this past summer, the 39-year-old spent five years working under Mike Budenholzer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Lee won a championship with the franchise in 2021, and earned the title of associate head coach after Darvin Ham left for the Los Angeles Lakers job. Before that, he worked under Budenholzer in Atlanta, spending four years as an assistant with the Hawks. Lee got his start in coaching at his alma mater, Bucknell University in 2012, where he spent two seasons before transitioning to the NBA coaching ranks.
A former pro himself, having spent four seasons playing overseas after going undrafted in 2006, Lee excels at cultivating strong relationships with players and his staff. Ever since he broke into the NBA with Atlanta, he’s been immersed in winning culture, coaching alongside fellow future head coaches, and working under two of the league’s best in Budenholzer and Joe Mazzulla. He won a championship three years ago, has made the playoffs nine times in 10 years as a coach, and was the top assistant for the best team in the NBA this season. Success courses through Lee’s veins.
Per team release, Lee made a few comments on his hiring ahead of Boston’s Game 2 showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers this evening:
“The opportunity to be the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is a dream come true,” said Lee. “I want to thank Rick Schnall, Gabe Plotkin and Jeff Peterson for the trust they are placing in me to lead this team. The Hornets have a talented young core of players and I’m excited about our future and what we can build here. There are few places as passionate about basketball as the Carolinas, and I look forward to coming to Charlotte and getting to work.” — Charles Lee (per Hornets.com)
The main things this franchise needed are a winning culture and a singular focus. For far too long, the Hornets have been surrounded by issues on and off-court that do not pertain to or positively influence a successful basketball organization. Lee, along with Jeff Peterson, who he worked with in Atlanta, will help implement those things. To me, this is far and away the best hire Charlotte could’ve made. A proven winner, relationship-builder, and family man, Lee is positioned to capitalize on his first head coaching opportunity.
