Charles Lee, a Celtics assistant, is appointed head coach by the Hornets.
The leading assistant coach of the Boston Celtics, Charles Lee, has agreed to a four-year deal to take over as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, sources told ESPN early on Thursday.
After becoming one of the most successful assistant coaches in the league, Lee, 39, has moved to Charlotte to oversee the Hornets’ rebuild under new executive president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson. Together, Lee and Peterson joined the Atlanta Hawks to start their NBA careers.
According to reports, Lee will play out the remainder of the Celtics’ postseason campaign before switching to the Hornets full-time.
Lee worked for the Bucks for five years under two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer, helping the team win an NBA championship in 2021, before moving to Boston as Joe Mazzulla’s top assistant last summer.
Steve Clifford, who left his position at the end of the season to take a front office position, is replaced by Lee. With the healthy return of All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball, the possible re-signing of free agent forward Miles Bridges, and the quick growth of No. 2 overall choice Brandon Miller, Charlotte has a chance to be significantly improved after a 21-61 campaign.
Following his 2006 senior season as the Patriot League Player of the Year, Lee began his coaching career at Bucknell in 2012. Lee joined Budenholzer’s staff in 2014 after playing professionally for two years in Europe. He later moved to the Hawks, the Bucks, and then the Celtics last summer.
