The Charlotte Hornets have spent the better part of the last decade stuck in the NBA’s cellar, but lately, there’s been a noticeable shift. A franchise long defined by inconsistency and injury woes is finally showing signs of life-and at the center of it all is head coach Charles Lee.
Lee’s impact on the team goes beyond the clipboard. In today’s NBA, coaching isn’t just about X’s and O’s anymore.
It’s about managing personalities, navigating egos, and building trust with a generation of players raised in the spotlight. Lee has embraced that challenge head-on, blending tactical savvy with a modern, player-first approach that’s starting to resonate in Charlotte.
Still, not everyone’s sold. Lee has drawn criticism from fans, media voices, and even players around the league. Golden State’s Draymond Green, never shy about weighing in, has questioned Lee’s handling of his star guard, LaMelo Ball-a player whose talent is undeniable, but whose availability has been anything but.
Ball’s journey has been a rollercoaster. He burst onto the scene with Rookie of the Year honors, followed that up with an All-Star appearance, and looked every bit like the face of the franchise.
But injuries-wrist, foot, knee, take your pick-have derailed his momentum. Since that All-Star season, he hasn’t played more than 47 games in a year.
For a player with sky-high potential, the inability to stay on the floor has become the defining narrative.
That’s why Lee’s decision to bring Ball off the bench in the second game of a back-to-back raised eyebrows. On paper, it was a calculated move-preserve Ball’s legs, maximize his impact in crunch time.
Lee even said Ball was on board. But outside the locker room, the move sparked pushback.
Some saw it as a slight, others as a sign of discord.
But here’s the thing: the people who matter most-the ones inside the building-seem to be buying in. And that’s starting to show on the court.
Respected NBA insider Sam Vecenie recently offered a strong endorsement of Lee’s work, calling him “a good coach” and suggesting Hornets fans should feel optimistic about where things are headed. That’s not just lip service, either-Vecenie backed it up with numbers.
Against the NBA’s top 10 teams this season, Charlotte is 4-8. That might not jump off the page, but dig deeper and you’ll find a team that’s competing hard. They’ve posted the fourth-best defense in those matchups, and no team in the league is outperforming the Vegas spread more often in those games than the Hornets.
That’s not the profile of a team floundering. That’s the profile of a team figuring things out.
For years, Charlotte felt like a franchise spinning its wheels-cycling through coaches, reshuffling rosters, and hoping something would click. But under general manager Jeff Peterson, there’s a sense of purpose.
The roster construction feels intentional. The coaching feels steady.
And for the first time in a long time, the Hornets seem to have a foundation they can build on.
There’s still a long road ahead. LaMelo Ball has to stay healthy.
The young core has to develop. And Charles Lee will need to keep evolving as a leader in a league that never stops changing.
But the signs are there. The Hornets aren’t just trying to escape the basement anymore-they’re starting to climb.