All Hornets

Joe Mazzulla Reacts to Charles Lee Taking the Hornets Job

The Celtics head coach expects Lee to do good things in Charlotte.

Schuyler Callihan

May 1, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
May 1, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is a man of few words. He is typically very short and to the point in postgame press conferences and in some ways, he's very Popovich-like.

When news broke of Mazzulla's top assistant, Charles Lee, accepting the head coaching job with the Charlotte Hornets, Mazzulla made sure to give him the cold hard truth about becoming a head coach in the NBA.

"Happy for him. Great coach...long overdue. He's going to do a great job," he said in a recent press conference. "Everybody hates you. Get used to it. Your no longer the nice, shiny toy."

While there is some adversity that comes with being a head coach in the NBA, Lee is entering a pretty strong situation. He's taking over a team that has a talented young core and is part of a complete new era in Charlotte. Expectations in the Queen City aren't like what they are in Boston, so as long as progress is made year over year, I don't expect Lee to get a hard time from the fans.

READ MORE ABOUT THE HORNETS

Hornets Add Three New Members to Front Office

Can Hornets Go From "Worst" to First in Southeast Division?

Re-Sign, Sign & Trade, or Let Walk? Hornets Fans Vote on Miles Bridges' Future in Charlotte

Published
Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

schuylercallihan(at)gmail.com  Twitter:@Callihan_ Schuyler Callihan is the lead publisher of Mountaineers Now, All Panthers, and All Hornets on FanNation/Sports Illustrated. He took over publishing duties of All Panthers in 2020 and wanted to expand his professional coverage in the Queen City by running the operations at All Hornets. Schuyler attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia before finishing up his schooling at Alamance Community College in Graham, North Carolina. The Wheeling, West Virginia native made the move to North Carolina in 2015 and has been in Charlotte since 2021.

Home/News