The Charlotte Hornets' coaching staff could be stung heavily if it loses assistant coach Chris Jent. He is reportedly on the radar of Mike Brown, the new head coach of the New York Knicks, who is currently finalizing his staff. Hopefully, the Hornets are able to retain the longtime coach.
According to ESPN's Frank Isola, Jent has emerged as a leading candidate to join Brown and the Knicks. It would surely be an enticing opportunity for him, as New York is expected to finish near the top of the Eastern Conference again, thanks in large part to a star-filled roster. In addition, he had already experienced success as Brown's assistant on the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers from 2006 to 2009.
Jent also briefly played for the Knicks, suiting up for three games with the team during the 1996-97 campaign. He didn't spend much time on the floor, though, appearing in a total of 10 minutes. He played more as a member of the title-winning Houston Rockets squad in 1994.
Hornets can't afford to lose Chris Jent
It remains to be seen if the Knicks can poach Jent, but Charlotte should look to prevent it from happening. He is easily the most experienced among Lee's assistant coaches, having been in that position since 2003, when he signed up to be a part of the Philadelphia 76ers' staff. He had a brief stint as the Orlando Magic's interim head coach in 2005, but has remained as an assistant coach in the NBA since then.
Before he joined forces with Lee in Charlotte last year, Jent had been an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems he is a highly esteemed figure in the league, as James likely signed on with the Purple and Gold's decision to hire him in 2022.
That stint allowed Jent to participate in a championship run as a coach for the first time, as the Lakers secured the title in the maiden edition of the NBA Cup, then still called the In-Season Tournament, in 2023.
The 55-year-old tactician bagged another championship this year after steering the Hornets to a first-place finish in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League.
Given Jent's body of work and the fact that Lee is one of the youngest head coaches in the Association today, the Hornets have to prioritize keeping him this offseason. He would be a huge loss if ever, especially since Charlotte needs all the help it can get on the offensive end.