Steve Clifford will return to the Charlotte Hornets as the franchise’s next Head Coach. It will be his second stint with the Hornets as the Head Coach. The veteran Head Coach led both the Charlotte Hornets and the Orlando Magic to their last appearances in the NBA Playoffs. He was fired by both teams. His return to the Hornets came after Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson changed course and decided not to take the job in Charlotte.
ESPN Sources: Steve Clifford has agreed to a deal to return as the Charlotte Hornets’ coach. Clifford, one of league’s most respected coaches among his peers, led Hornets to two playoff trips in a five-year run that ended in 2018.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2022
As the Head Coach of the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, Steve Clifford has an overall record of 292-345. In those eight seasons, he led both teams to the NBA Playoffs twice and lost in the first round all four times. This second tenure with the Hornets will feature an almost completely different roster and a new star in point guard LaMelo Ball. The goal of both sides has to be to make the NBA Playoffs and win as many games as possible. Clifford should help improve the team’s defense at the very least.
ESPN Sources: Kenny Atkinson has decided he won’t become the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach and will remain with Golden State as top assistant. After being offered job during the NBA Finals, further conversations led Atkinson to believe it would be best to remain with Warriors.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2022
This situation surrounding the Charlotte Hornets is off, but ultimately they now have a new Head Coach. Replacing Steve Clifford’s replacement with the man himself is certainly a move no one saw coming.
