Charlotte Hornets hire Charles Lee as head coach
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The Charlotte Hornets have named Charles Lee as head coach.
Why it matters: Lee is the latest piece in a major period of transition as the franchise looks to create a winning product on the court.
Context: Lee arrives amid personnel changes in the front office, facility upgrades and a playoff drought that spans almost a decade.
- It's been less than a year since Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Hornets to a group led by businessmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin.
Catch up quick: Lee, the Hornets' 12th head coach, has a decade of experience as an NBA assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.
- His coaching career started at Bucknell, his alma mater, where he played from 2002-2006. He was part of the team that upset Kansas in the NCAA tournament in 2005.
- He also played professionally in Germany, Belgium and Israel.
- Lee is a Washington, D.C.-area native. He and his wife, Lindsey, have three daughters: Corinne, Vivian and Josephine.
What's next: Lee will head to Charlotte once the season wraps up in Boston, where he's currently an assistant coach.
What they're saying: "His high character and his ability to connect with players while also instilling a culture of accountability will serve us well as we construct a competitive team built for long-term success," Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson said in a statement.
Lee cited the Hornets' "talented young core of players ... (and) I'm excited about our future and what we can build here."
- "There are few places as passionate about basketball as the Carolinas, and I look forward to coming to Charlotte and getting to work."