Charlotte Hornets players Spencer Dinwiddie, Josh Okogie, Josh Green, Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann sit courtside for the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers game at Thomas & Mack Center. Candice Ward USA TODAY NETWORK
In the dark hallways outside a practice gym at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, Charles Lee takes a brief break from his usual daily duties to reflect on the past and eagerly anticipate what’s to come.
“Just really excited to kind of pick up where we left off at the end of the season,” the Charlotte Hornets second-year coach told The Observer. “I thought that we made a lot of great progress, and we saw a lot of guys had some great years. Unfortunately, dealt with some injuries, but it gave other guys opportunities to play and get some experience.
“So now, entering into summer league, I think it was a really successful draft for us on a lot of different levels. We addressed some needs we need on the court, we addressed some needs that are going to continue to help us build the culture that we need going forward off the court. So, I’m excited to see all these things come together.”
Through the first week of action in the desert, things are looking pretty good for Charlotte. The Hornets improved to 3-0 in summer league action behind a 87-69 win over Dallas on Monday, picking up valuable on-court time that should aid in fostering their development.
“Some of our young guys get to play — to see Tidjane (Salaün) and KJ (Simpson) and D.B. (Damion Baugh) in Year 2 go out there and try to hoop,” Lee said, “and then also our rookies, trying to get them integrated with how we play and the defensive terminology, offensively try to play a little bit faster and share the ball. And not being so bogged down with the noise that comes with summer league, that comes with being the No. 4 pick.
“It’s not about scoring 30, 40, 50 points in a game. If that happens, great. But it’s really just trying to get these guys to play team basketball and get some quality reps while also having some of our veteran players here to continue to support them and continue work as well.”
Lee spoke to The Observer about a range of topics, including LaMelo Ball’s evolving leadership, the addition of Collin Sexton, impressions of Charlotte’s 2025 draft class featuring Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner and more.
Roderick Boone: How do you think the players added this offseason by president of basketball Jeff Peterson will help with the culture change you mentioned?
Charles Lee: Jeff and his group, everyone always kinds of talks about alignment and we talk about it as a team: actions speak louder than words. And everything Jeff and his group have done to continue to elevate our environment, our culture professionally, competitively, there’s extreme alignment there. And I love it. And I’m just really grateful to be able to partner with somebody like that.
The goal is just to continue to get these guys working together, pushing each other to be better, spending time with each other on and off the court. And just also trying to lead by example. I think that a lot of guys have kind of committed themselves at a different level this summer, and it’s showing in their development. But I think it’s also showing a good example for our young guys to see what it really takes to be in this league.
Charlotte Hornets players Spencer Dinwiddie, Josh Okogie, Josh Green, Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann sit courtside for the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers game at Thomas & Mack Center. Candice Ward USA TODAY NETWORK
RB: How do you think LaMelo is going to show he’s taking another step as a leader?
CL: He recognized how physical the game got last year. And when he’s at a high level, the way people try to combat that is with more physicality or showing him two bodies on the ball and blitzing him, trying to get the ball out of his hands. So, I think, No. 1, he’s really locked in on his body, and done a really good job in the weight room. Our performance staff has pushed him in a lot of different ways, and he’s committed himself to getting better in that regard.
On the court, he’s done a really good job of trying to put himself in some game situations to prepare himself for some of these blitzing situations or some of the top blocking. Memphis stands out to me. Those guys picked him up full court, they were going to deny him everywhere he was and at times he got frustrated. And I think that now just trying to get more reps in the offseason of what that looks like and feels like, so (then) when the games come around this year, he’s a little bit more prepared for it.
The other thing that I’ve just noticed ... is just being a little bit more vocal. There’s been times when these guys are out on the court together, and whether it’s during a group workout or they’re playing ‘1s,’ he’s trying to actually impart some wisdom to the guys he’s been with. So, I think just a lot of on-court leadership but also the vocal leadership piece he’s also working on as well.
RB: What do you think Collin Sexton can bring to this team and what did you know about him previously?
CL: From afar, he was very competitive. At times he would stare me down during games as the opposing coach or scout coach, and he’s always looking for some fuel to get him going. So, when he first got here, I made sure to remind them of that, ‘Like, don’t be looking at me crazy like that anymore or your minutes are going to suffer now.’ But it’s great. I’m so glad to have him on our side.
He brings a fearlessness, competitiveness. His work ethic, even since Day One of getting (traded), he was working out in Atlanta. He drove up ASAP, has been in the gym, has been trying to communicate with his teammates, his coaches, the performance staff. He’s just locked it and committed to being a Hornet and I love it.
I already appreciate so much of what he’s kind of giving to our group. Seeing him do group workouts with Melo, them having conversations, I just think is really important for our group to continue to grow. And he’s going to be a big part of that with his work ethic and then also with his competitiveness.
RB: How has the game evolved in your mind and how can LaMelo and Collin Sexton make problems for others?
CL: Just the game is becoming so much more and more positionless. A lot of times you just want your five best players out there, no matter what size they are. Do they compete defensively? Can they remember a game plan? Can they execute a game plan? And then offensively, are they willing to share the ball, play together, get a piece of the paint, make the right reads?
And whether that guy is 6 feet tall or 6-9, the whole lineup is 6-6 across the board — whatever that is — you just want to have your five best players out there that bring cohesion on both sides of the floor that they are going to compete at a really high level.
So, we do try to challenge our players to be open-minded. We might have to play a lot of different lineups. I think that when it comes around to the playoffs, there’s some teams, you’ve got to be ready to play big. There’s some teams you’ve got to be ready to play small, and there’s something in the middle versus another series. And so you got to be adaptable.
RB: After dealing with injuries in your first season, how will having more depth at guard now benefit you?
CL: It’s exciting, because with depth it obviously helps the coach have a lot of different options. But I think also just creates some healthy competitiveness among your team. You’ve got to always know that there’s another great guard right behind me, and if I don’t have it on this night, then Coach might go with this guy. And so I just got to be even more locked in.
I think there’s that togetherness, but there’s healthy competition. And that’s life, that’s the game of basketball and you have to embrace it. So, I think having depth also just kind of helps push people to keep wanting to grow and keep wanting to get better.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee reacts against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center. Rhona Wise USA TODAY NETWORK
RB: How confident are you in the front line as the roster is constructed?
CL: I see a lot of versatility. When we talk about Miles (Bridges) and you can throw Tidjane (Salaun) in that category, Moussa (Diabate). But yeah, just versatility. I think the way that Ryan will play as big and Moussa will play as a big are two different things, but I think both guys, they’re really good defensively.
Ryan, obviously, coming from Creighton and being the four-time defensive player of the year in the Big East and Moussa showed last year his ability to guard the 1-5 is going to be really helpful for us defensively.
Then I think offensively, wanting to play faster, Moussa allows us to do that. Because after a rebound, or a blocked shot or a steal, he is just out. He can outrun a lot of a lot of bigs. And Ryan, his ability to be really mobile on the perimeter. I think he rolls really well and can catch some lobs from some of our guys. But he’s also going to be able to play on the perimeter and make some passes. So, we are going to have the ability to toggle between a lot of different looks.
RB: What impresses you most about the rookies?
CL: I love their passion for the game. They have a great curiosity. They went to the Charlotte FC game to support Charlotte FC. And I walked into the suite and they also have their phones out and they’re watching the summer league game. So, their ability to just want to continue to watch and learn … They can’t wait to get in the gym after we’ve drafted them and they come for their press conference. They’re like, ‘Coach, when we can we get in the gym?’
So, there’s just a hunger, there’s a curiosity, there’s a great work ethic. And also during these summer league practices, they’re uplifting the rest of their teammates. They’re just going to help elevate our level of togetherness, our level of competitiveness.
They’re all really well-coached and so they’re coming in here with a really good basketball mindset, too. So, I think that what they can do on the court, their basketball IQ, who they are as people, it’s really exciting to see what these guys can be in the coming years.
RB: How much more comfortable are you going into Year 2?
CL: I would just say going into Year 2, it’s really nice to be able to transition and just be here fully. Last year, it was a bit of a whirlwind. You’re drinking out of a fire hose. First-year head coach, you just won a championship, you’re just trying to get yourself acclimated, transitioning your family — all those things.
Then this year it was just nice to not have to prepare for a job interview, move your family, look for a home or anything. You didn’t have to build a staff, really. So, I’m just super thankful for the fact that I could kind of just continue to build on what happened last year, and the consistency that I’m able to have with the group now, continuing to build relationships, be around the gym, it’s been really helpful. So, I’m looking forward to taking off here soon.
RB: The Eastern Conference could be more wide open due to major injuries to key players. What would it mean to end the NBA’s longest postseason drought?
CL: I think our focus is just trying to get better every day, every opportunity that we have to improve. Whether it’s in the weight room, whether it’s in the film room, whether it’s on the court. That’s got to be our focus. You’re right. The east is wide open and there’s a great opportunity there.
But the only way that you can actually make the most of the opportunity that is in front of you is to just keep preparing and keep focusing on one day at a time, being present in the moment. And so our focus is just every day improvement. And if we can control what we can control, hopefully that puts us in a great spot to have some success.
Editor’s note: Lee’s discussion with The Observer came prior to official signings of Spencer Dinwiddie and Mason Plumlee, and per NBA rules, the Hornets’ coach couldn’t comment specifically on those two offseason acquisitions.
Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) celebrates with guard KJ Simpson (25) after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center. Lucas Peltier Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Hornets’ preseason games in Greensboro, Charleston
Those hoping to see the Charlotte Hornets in action during the preseason have to plan a road trip.
On Monday, the team announced both home games are taking place outside of Charlotte, with matchups scheduled to tip off in North and South Carolina.
The Hornets meet the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champion, at the North Charleston Coliseum at 5 p.m. on Oct. 5. It will mark the fifth preseason outing for the Hornets in Charleston, the most recent coming in 2012.
Charlotte’s other ‘home’ game comes against the Memphis Grizzlies in Greensboro at First Horizon Coliseum at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15. The team’s full preseason schedule will be released at a later date, likely prior to the team’s 2025-26 regular-season schedule being unveiled sometime in August.