The Hornets are sticking with what worked.
Charlotte has signed head coach Charles Lee to a multiyear contract extension, the team announced, locking in the architect of one of the league’s biggest turnarounds.
Lee, who took over in 2024, went from 19 wins in his first season to 44 this year. The Hornets finished one game shy of the playoffs but posted their best record in a decade.
“Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team,” president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson 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.”
The season did not start that way. Charlotte opened 11-23 and looked headed for another long year. Then everything flipped.
From early January on, the Hornets went 33-15 and ranked among the NBA’s best on both ends. They finished first in offensive rating, fourth in defensive rating and first in net rating over that stretch.
They won their first play-in game before falling just short of the postseason, but the second-half surge changed the outlook.
Lee’s new deal keeps that momentum in place as the Hornets try to take the next step.
Terms were not disclosed, but he had multiple years remaining on his previous contract, meaning Charlotte is clearly committing to him well into the future
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