Charlotte Hornets coach Lee earns contract extension

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee signed a contract extension after leading the franchise to a 25-win improvement in 2025-26, the biggest single-season turnaround in franchise history.

Two years into his tenure as Charlotte Hornets coach, Charles Lee has earned a contract extension.

The team announced today it signed Lee to a new deal after he led Charlotte to a 44-38 record in 2025-26, a 25-win improvement compared to the season prior. The Hornets, who started 16-28 went 28-10 down the stretch to qualify for the play-in round and the largest turnaround in team history.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team and building on what we’ve started here in Charlotte,” Lee said in a statement. “I want to thank Rick [Schnall], Gabe [Plotkin] and Jeff [Peterson] for their support as well as my coaching staff and the players for their tireless work and dedication. 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.”

Schnall and Plotkin are the Hornets’ owners; Peterson is the general manager.

“Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team,” Peterson said. “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.”

The Hornets’ 2026 turnaround was closely watched across the NBA. They were first in net rating (plus-10.5) since Jan. 1, with a top-ranked offensive rating (120.7) and fifth in defensive rating (110.2). Charlotte led all teams in rebounding percentage (54.8%), was second chance points (19.0) and 3-pointers made per game (17.3) during that stretch.

Lee earned his first Eastern Conference Coach of the Month award after the Hornets finished January 11-6 and tied for the highest point differential on the road (plus-151) in any month in NBA history. The Hornets ended the month on a six-game winning streak that extended to nine that matched the second-longest roll in franchise history and the longest since the 1998-99 season.

Charlotte set a franchise standard with 10 consecutive road wins and tied an NBA single-season record with eight road wins by 25 points or more.

Comments