The Charlotte Hornets appear to have already set their sights on a new leader, with news emerging that Steve Clifford will be stepping down from his coaching role at the end of the season. Clifford, who will continue coaching for the team’s final seven regular-season games, is poised to transition into a front-office position, marking the end of his second tenure as head coach of the Hornets.
Following this announcement, there has been considerable discussion within coaching circles regarding potential replacements, with current Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee emerging as a strong candidate. Reports from Chris Mannix of SI and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN have highlighted Lee as a top contender for the Hornets’ coaching position.
Lee, a former professional basketball player abroad, boasts nearly ten years of experience as an NBA assistant coach. He served as an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks from 2014 to 2018, followed by a stint with the Milwaukee Bucks until 2023, before joining the Celtics as their lead assistant in 2023. Notably, Lee was part of the coaching staff that secured a championship with the Bucks in 2021 and is now positioned to potentially win another with the Celtics, who currently lead the league standings.
Last year, Lee was also considered for another NBA head-coaching role, and now he may have another opportunity to lead, this time with the rebuilding Hornets team.
