“The opportunity to be the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is a dream come true,” Lee said in a news release.
Former coach Steve Clifford led the Hornets to a 21-61 record in 2023-24 and stepped down at the end of the season. Clifford led the Hornets to a 27-55 mark in 2022-23. The Hornets went 138-163 in four seasons under former coach James Borrego, who was fired in 2022.
NBA legend Michael Jordan sold his majority ownership stake in the Hornets in August. The team has just three playoff appearances over the last 20 years and hasn’t advanced past the first round since 2001-02.
Lee, 39, started his coaching career in 2012 as an assistant at Bucknell. He joined the NBA ranks in 2014, working as an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks. Lee also served as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2018 to 2023, before joining the Celtics staff last off-season