Charles Lee Signs Contract Extension with Charlotte Hornets

Hornets extend head coach Charles Lee After near playoff run

Lee, a two-time NBA champion assistant, has posted a 63-101 record in two seasons with the Hornets.

The Hornets beat Miami in the play-in before losing to Orlando for the Eastern Conference’s 8th seed...

The Charlotte Hornets have extended Charles Lee’s contract, ensuring he stays on as head coach after the team fell one win short of its first playoff berth since 2016.

On Thursday, the Hornets confirmed that Lee, 41, will remain with the franchise. The American coach, a two-time NBA champion as an assistant, has led Charlotte to a 63-101 record across his two seasons in charge.

The Hornets capped the season with a 28-10 surge, finishing 44-38 for a 25-win jump that set a new franchise record.

“I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team and building on what we've started,” Lee said.

“I'm excited about the direction we're headed and our team's bright future... I'm proud of the culture we're establishing. We're just getting started. I'm looking forward to the work ahead.”

Charlotte defeated Miami in the play-in tournament before falling to Orlando in the game that decided the East’s 8th seed.

“Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team,” said Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson.

“He has built a team-first culture rooted in accountability, hard work and professionalism.”

Before taking the head job in Charlotte, Lee spent 10 years as an NBA assistant, working with the 2021 champion Milwaukee Bucks and the 2024 champion Boston Celtics.

OFFICIAL: We have signed Head Coach Charles Lee to a contract extension.

🔗 https://t.co/Dq9IMZMngs pic.twitter.com/LJ3oGpo2z5

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) May 7, 2026