The Charlotte Hornets are hiring Utah Jazz assistant coach Lamar Skeeter to be the lead assistant on Charles Lee’s coaching staff, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Lee was announced as the Hornets’ new head coach this week. The 39-year-old replaces longtime head coach Steve Clifford, who will transition to a front office role next season.
Hornets Poach Jazz Assistant Lamar Skeeter
A former D2 basketball star, Skeeter has held an assistant coach role with the Jazz since 2014. The Ohio native initially began his coaching career with the G League’s Cleveland Charge in 2012 under Dallas Mavericks assistant Alex Jensen. Jensen has ties to Utah himself, as he was a Jazz assistant coach from 2014-15 to 2022-23.
In 2013, Skeeter was hired as a player development coach and video intern under freshly minted Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer. At the time, Budenholzer was coaching the Atlanta Hawks. That season, the Hawks went just 38-44. It was Budenholzer’s first season as head coach.
What Can He Bring to Charlotte?
Skeeter likely took plenty of lessons from his experience in Atlanta. More to the point, as a first-time head coach, there was plenty of trial-and-error process for Budenholzer. With Lee joining the Hornets as a first-time head coach, Skeeter may be able to help him avoid the same mistakes that Budenholzer made. That said, Skeeter also coached under Quin Snyder and Will Hardy in their first years as head coaches.
To that point, Skeeter won’t just be drawing from his experiences a decade ago as Lee transitions to his new role.
That won’t be the only way Skeeter helps though. In 2019 and 2022, he was name the head coach of the Jazz’s Summer League team. In that time, he made favorable impressions as a defensive specialist. Skeeter’s player development skills were also praised.
To that point, improving the defense and developing their young players two of the Hornets’ primary goals.
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