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When news broke that the Charlotte Hornets hired Celtics assistant Charles Lee as their coach to succeed Steve Clifford, who stepped away after two years helping the franchise transition from James Borrego when Kenny Atkinson backed out of accepting the job in 2022, Lee was in Boston preparing for Game 2 against the Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Hornets last played 25 days earlier against Cleveland, wrapping up a 21-61 season with a win, while Boston went on to play for 39 more days after their Game 2 loss to the Cavs. Over that stretch, Lee balanced formulating his plan for Charlotte with finishing the job for Boston.
"I had a relationship with Charles before, because we went to Basketball Without Borders two years prior, so I'd known him from that," Grant Williams said on Friday. "So when he got the job, I texted him immediately. I was like ... we always talked about you coaching me, and I thought it was gonna be in Milwaukee, and that you would go to Boston, and I thought I was gonna be in Boston, and I'm not in Boston anymore, and now it's in Charlotte. "It's really cool to have him here. The first thing we talked about is just getting guys together ... we had a group chat with Melo, myself and everybody else trying to just communicate ... (Lee) did his actual job being with the Celtics, but also checking in on us, making sure we're doing our thing, making sure we're prepared for this upcoming year and giving tidbits on what he wants and expects."
Steve Clifford, the Charlotte Hornets‘ former head coach and now front-office advisor, wishes he could have guard Vasilije Micic and big man Aleksej Pokusevski on the team much earlier than when the team acquired them in February. “My only regret is that I didn’t bring them earlier,” Clifford said per Mozzart during his visit at the Dusan Ivkovic clinic in Belgrade, Serbia. It would be even better if they were with us for the whole season, two great guys who fit into the team.”
“It wasn’t easy for him, but the very fact that he endured not playing, that he remained positive and hard-working, that’s what I liked most about him. A great guy,” Clifford commented. On a team with a crowded backcourt, Micic had 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in 12.0 minutes with the Thunder, playing in 30 out of the team’s 51 games before he got traded. Pokusevski followed the same route later in February and ended up posting 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 18 games. ” I have to say that I am very happy for him because he showed that he can play,” Clifford mentioned on Pokusevski. “He made a step forward and that is the most important thing at this moment. It is important now to make continuity”.
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Brad Townsend: Steve Clifford on Grant Williams, who has become a facilitator as the Hornets’ center in 5-out sets. pic.twitter.com/kzPlgV0xhX
Steve Clifford on Grant Williams, who has become a facilitator as the Hornets’ center in 5-out sets. pic.twitter.com/kzPlgV0xhX
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) April 9, 2024
Rod Boone: Jeff Peterson and Steve Clifford just wrapped up a press conference. Clifford said he decided to make the move because he doesn't have the energy level to do the daily NBA grind any longer. Peterson said #Hornets will have "a thorough search" and won't put a timetable on a hire. pic.twitter.com/iQNRwSyuIt
Kurt Helin: Hornets announce coach Steve Clifford will step down as head coach after season ends. Considering the change in ownership and GM this is not a surprise, but the announcement comes a week+ before the end of the season.
Steve Clifford is stepping down as the Charlotte Hornets' coach at the end of the season and working to finalize a front office role with the franchise, sources told ESPN. Clifford, who informed his assistants and players of the news Wednesday morning, will coach the Hornets' final seven games beginning Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, sources said. Charlotte's new executive vice president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and co-owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin were open to bringing him back as coach next season, but Clifford, 62, decided he wasn't prepared to commit to the year-round grind of head coaching for the 2024-2025 season, sources said.
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Peterson, who worked with Clifford in Brooklyn, and ownership are eager to create an advisor position that would allow Clifford to remain in Charlotte and impact all parts of the organization, sources said. Those details are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, sources said.
Steve Clifford stepping down as Hornets' head coach
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Steve Clifford is stepping down as the Charlotte Hornets’ coach at the end of the season and working to finalize a front office role with the franchise. Clifford informed his assistants and players on Wednesday morning.
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