Hornets Announce Contract Decision on Head Coach Charles Lee
The Charlotte Hornets signed head coach Charles Lee on a contract extension following the 2025-26 NBA season, the team announced on Thursday.
Financial details of the extension were not made public, per team policy.
Lee took over as head coach of the Hornets prior to the 2024-25 season, going 19-63 in his debut campaign. Charlotte saw a massive improvement in Year 2, going 44-38 and marking the greatest year-over-year win total jump in franchise history.
Lee was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month after the Hornets went 11-6 with a historic +151 differential on the road through January. Charlotte beat the Miami Heat in their first NBA Play-In Tournament game, but ultimately missed out on the playoffs after suffering a loss to the Orlando Magic.
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"Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team," Hornets president 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. He has built a team-first culture rooted in accountability, hard work and professionalism. I'm excited to keep working closely with Charles as we continue to build the Hornets for long-term success."
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Lee was previously an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. Before landing his head coaching job with the Hornets, he helped the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship as an assistant in 2023-24.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team and building on what we've started here in Charlotte," Lee said. "I'm excited about the direction we're headed and our team's bright future. Our players have shown a real commitment to growth, and I'm proud of the culture we're establishing together. We're just getting started, and I'm looking forward to the work ahead."
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 12:10 PM.