Charles Lee, a former Celtics assistant coach in 2023-24, inked a contract extension with the Hornets on May 7.
Charlotte won 44 games in 2025-26, its most since 48 in 2015-16. The team’s record placed it into the NBA’s Play-In Tournament, where it defeated the Heat before losing to the Magic — squandering what would have been its first playoff berth in a decade — in the No. 8 seed contest.
In his first year as head coach, Lee won only 19 games — 25 games fewer than his second-year mark — to finish as the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets landed the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting 3-point specialist Kon Knueppel. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, largely due to his strong shot-making ability from behind the arc. He made a league-best 273 3s during his first professional season.
“Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team,” Hornets President of Basketball Operations JeffPeterson said in a statement. “From day one, Charles and his staff have prioritized player development, creating an environment where each of our players are committed to getting better and continue to improve. He has built a team-first culture rooted in accountability, hard work and professionalism. I’m excited to keep working closely with Charles as we continue to build the Hornets for long-term success.”
Lee brought an abundance of coaching experience when he took the Hornets’ head coaching job, which was announced while the Celtics battled in the playoffs for their NBA title in 2024. Before arriving in Boston, Lee was an associate head coach with the Bucks and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s top assistant. The Maryland native won a championship with the Bucks in 2021 and the Celtics in 2024 during a 10-year career as an assistant coach.