The Charlotte Hornets signed head coach Charles Lee to a contract extension after he led the team to a 25-win improvement this past season, the report says. Details of the new deal were not released by the team.
Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson praised Lee’s work in a statement, saying Lee and his staff established the foundation for the team’s identity, emphasized player development and built a team-first culture rooted in accountability, hard work and professionalism, per the statement.
The report says Charlotte began the season 4-14 amid early injuries but turned its slate around after Jan. 2, posting a 33-15 record over the remainder of the regular season to finish with 44 wins.
Charlotte fell to Orlando in the second Eastern Conference play-in tournament game and missed the playoffs by one win, per the report. The loss left the Hornets one win shy of ending what the report calls the longest current playoff drought in the NBA, which stands at 10 seasons.
The report also notes Lee completed his second season and earned his first Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honor in January for an 11-6 record. It says he tied for the highest point differential on the road (+151) in any month in NBA history.
