The Charlotte Hornets have had little to no success since their addition to the NBA in 1988.
Despite being owned by the legendary Michael Jordan for 17 years, the Charlotte Hornets have failed to leave a dent in the NBA.
In fact, the Hornets currently have the longest playoff drought in the entire NBA as they last reached the postseason in 2016.
Right now, the Hornets undoubtedly have a talented roster with LaMelo Ball at the center, but they need an elite head coach to get the best out of their players. The Hornets have currently placed their trust in Charles Lee.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesCharles Lee’s NBA coaching experience
Prior to getting the job as the head coach of the Hornets, Lee had served as an assistant and associate head coach for 10 seasons.
He did so with the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics. He landed his first head coaching opportunity with the Hornets before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.
However, Lee’s first season as the team’s coach was anything but fruitful. After all, the Hornets finished as the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference with a terrible 19-63 record.
But similar to Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets, it’s too soon to judge Lee’s skills as a head coach, especially considering Ball battled with injuries and ended up playing in just 47 games last season.
Additionally, even after missing out on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Lee showed optimism about the Hornets. This shows his trust in himself and the current quality of the roster.
Who is the longest serving head coach in Charlotte Hornets’ history?
Being an underwhelming team in the NBA, it’s no surprise that the Hornets have changed their fair share of head coaches.
Before Lee took over the reins of the Hornets, Steve Clifford fulfilled the head coaching duties for the franchise.
This was Clifford’s second stint with the team, which also made him the longest-serving head coach in franchise history, as his tenure spanned seven years over two stints.
He also holds the record for most wins in Hornets history with 244 victories to his name. Can Lee someday surpass Clifford’s achievements? Only time will tell.