The Charlotte Hornets have finally announced their next head coach: Boston Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee. On Thursday morning, it was made official as Charlotte and Lee agreed to terms on a four-year deal to lead this organization out of a longstanding rebuild.
Lee has worked in the past with new Hornets co-owner Rick Schnall and general manager Jeff Peterson when all were with the Atlanta Hawks from 2015-2018. Due to these connections, plus Lee’s impressive resume up to this point, Charlotte’s top target was secured. Unlike the Kenny Atkinson saga, Lee was their man and stayed true to his commitment to the organization
Lee, who is only 39 years old, is known for his player development and ability to relate to players. For one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, including their two key franchise pillars inLaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Lee seems like the absolute perfect fit from all angles.
“We are excited to welcome Charles Lee as the head coach of Charlotte Hornets,” Peterson said in a statement. “His high character and his ability to connect with players while also instilling a culture of accountability will serve us well as we construct a competitive team built for long-term success. Charles possesses a championship pedigree with a wide range of basketball knowledge and NBA experience, has a tremendous work ethic and is a great communicator. He shares our vision for this organization, and I look forward to partnering with him in building something special here in the Carolinas. I can’t wait for our Hornets community to meet Charles, his wife Lindsey and his beautiful daughters, and feel Charles’ passion for the game and the intensity of his desire to win.”
Lee will join the Hornets once the Celtics’ postseason run concludes, which most likely won’t be until mid-June. Right before the draft, Lee will be locked in to give his input on potential prospects as well.
“The opportunity to be the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is a dream come true,” Lee said. “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.”
The Hornets’ new era of leadership headlined by Schnall, Plotkin, Peterson and Lee is now official.