August 14, 2025 • 10 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're breaking down the NBA schedule on schedule release day,
sports Rading ninety two to seven WFNZ, the West Coast Roadies,
the home stands, back to backs, national games. All love
it and who better to talk about it more than
the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, Charles Lee. He
now joins us on the guest line Coach, thank you
so much for the time, my man, how are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm doing phenomenal, Walker, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Am Absolutely, I do want to know this. So we
look at all that stuff, the back to backs and
all of it. What's the thing you're looking at first
and foremost, as the head coach of an NBA basketball team,
what's the first thing you're looking at on schedule release day?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
So, first thing I'm looking at, who do we play
the first game of the season, and like, who do
I already like, my mind starts swing towards how are
we going to guard them? How are we going to
do this? And so I think, get to back it
up a little bit and remember there's other stuffs before that.
But first game is the first thing I look at.
And the second thing is like, when are we going
to play at home? So it's good to know. Are
we on the road, how's all the logistics of Christmas
(00:56):
is going to go with the fans?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
October twenty second is when you guys will be playing
that first home game and the first game of the season,
So you get to cross off a couple of things there.
But what are some things that we should be watching
for come preseason, coach, because we got that schedule just
a couple of days ago as well, what are some
things that you really want to iron out as you
approach the regular season. How much does the preseason matter
(01:18):
to you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Preseason matters a ton to us. I would say everything
matters to us. We talk a ton about daily improvement
and being obsessed with what that process looks like and
not skipping steps and just being present in that current moment.
And so anyway, just competing at a really high level,
how some we all impact winning and the things that
we've talked about. I think everyone has heard me talk
(01:41):
a ton about defense, But I would also like to
see our offense ive prove this year too, So as
we kind of go into the preseason, it will be
important for us to start improving in the offensive area too.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
All right, Well, let's just break down all the schedules, then,
shall we. The Cup schedule also released yesterday. We have
those games all taking place in November on a scale
from a normal regular season game to playoff game mode.
And you've had a lot of experience in the postseason,
how do you approach an NBA Cup game?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, Number one, the league has done a phenomenal job.
I think implementing these Cup games. I think the whole
process of it, I've really enjoyed it. It increases the
stakes with some of these regular season games and makes
them even a higher level of competition. I will say
my staff and I we try to elevate even our
level of prep going into those games. And so I
(02:31):
look forward to getting to those Cup games and seeing
how it all plays out. And then obviously you have
the point differential and needing to know do you need
to win by a certain amount or you can't lose
by a certain amount as you kind of continue in
the pool play and stuff. So I think we've got
a really good group that's going to challenge us in
our pool, and I look forward to really competing at
a high level there. Well.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I mean, you guys do pretty well in Vegas. I guess, so,
let's we got to get to Vegas and then we
can start bringing in some more titles, just like we
won with the some league title around here. And I
told you last year, coach, they denied us the California
Classic title. I still say we won it. We got
the championship and they decided not to give us one.
So I'm glad that you guys just went out there
and took it this time, fair and square. Of course,
(03:13):
we love Chris Gent around here. Now he's going to
be up in New York being the associate head coach
with Mike Brown working with him again. He was the
head coach for the Summer League squad. Coach, what are
you losing in Chris Jen's absence.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, well, first I'd just say, I'm with you. We
won every title we can possibly get. Yeah, and so
the Summer League title was really exciting. I was really
just proud. I think of our whole group for having
the right mindset, the right approach going in the Summer League,
understanding the importance of trying to build those winning habits
from day one, and I think that our young guys,
(03:45):
I think the coaching staff. I was just yelling in
a quick period of time and having to figure out
that uh got banged up along the way and missed
some games. And the compit that you play and the
atmosphere that you're in is a little bit closer to
an NBA setting. So it was really good to see
our guys perform well and the guy at the helm
(04:08):
making sure it all real ran really well and really smoothly.
With Christient and I think I'm number one, I'm really
happy for him. I think that he has a tremendous
opportunity ahead of him. I'm extremely grateful and thankful for
everything he did for our organization. He really helped us
last year, I think set a foundation for who we
want to be and what we want to be about.
(04:30):
And he's just he's been a great friend to me
throughout my whole coaching career, and so it'll be bittersweet
to have him leave, but I'm excited for him and
his new journey.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Breaking down the NBA schedule on Hornet's Schedule release Day,
head coach Charles Lee joining us now on the guest
line and coach. We've got to get to some of
these offseason moves man, especially free agency. I think the
move that got Hornets fans the most excited they kicked
everything off. It was the Colin Sexton trade. I host
the Lockdown Hornets podcast Wes and Walker here on w FNZ.
(05:02):
That got like a one hund approval rating from all
the sickos whom I engage with every day. Was Sexton
a guy you and Jeff Peterson had talked about before
then targeted. Did you find out he was available and
then make an offer like this move caught people by surprise?
Did it do the same to you?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
You know? I think Jeff and and his group, uh,
they are just so well prepared. I think that opportunities
that that come about they have studied, They understand are
are what we're looking for in players, and like what
those qualities look like. They understand what we need to
do from a rostered depth and balance standpoint two. And
(05:42):
I think as they were approached with a situation, they
broke it down, they prepared like they usually do. They
chopped it up and figured out what makes sense for
our team going forward. And I've been pleasant. I've been
very excited about Colin Sexton joining our group. I think
that I've always witness him competing at a really high level.
(06:02):
He can score the ball. I think that he's already
since he's been in with our group and around our group,
he's elevated. They all workouts and all the interactions competing.
Definitely a expociable, in your face type guy. But I
love it and I think that he's going to add
a lot to our group, into our culture.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
You have a lot of guards this year, not only
Colin Sexton, but you guys signed a lot in free agency.
You drafted a few guys out there on the perimeter
h this past election process. How does your team change
with the roster makeup you have now compared to what
it was last year.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Yeah, you know, I think that we had a pretty
good roster last year, but this year we're definitely a
little bit more versatile. I think, you know, we we
are big. We can play a lot of different ways
this year. Having Plumbly, having Cal Brinner, having Musa, it
allows you to be in center fields sometimes be able
to switch. And then, like you just said, having so
(07:00):
many guards and so many just competitors with high basketball IQ,
it's going to help us be able to play a
lot of different ways. I think if we watched the league,
everybody's playing a lot faster. It's becoming a lot more positionless.
And so I think that, you know, with this versatility
that we have of our of our roster and having
a lot more guards, a lot more ball handlers, that
can help us hopefully create some more open shots. I'm
(07:24):
really excited to see how how it all kind of
comes together.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, a lot of people have questions about the center rotation,
just because there was such a focus on guards in
the off season. But you did pick up Ryan Kalchbrenner,
you signed Mason Plumley. Of course you have Musa Diabate.
We love letting the moose loose around here, baby, So
we love Musa Diabate. How to see that center rotation
play now?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, you know, I think it's a good balance. Again,
you get a veteran and Plumbly, it's been around the
league a ton of experience. I think all that experience
has kind to help him understand what it takes to
really win. I think that he's been used as a starter,
he's been used as a role player coming off the bench,
and so he's going to be able to adapt to
whatever we need. I think that he's going to be
(08:05):
able to give a lot of corporate knowledge of the NBA.
He's a professional. He's in every day focused on his body.
He's focused on improving in the weight room and even
as however many years he's been in the league. Now
he understands and has a growth mindset, which is really
important I think for our group and being open minded.
And then again, I think Mussa had a phenomenal opportunity
(08:28):
to summer. He's continued to grow. He's like one of
our great success stories from a player development standpoint, and
his all in and commitment to just trying to be
better and try to be the most versatile and energetic
big you could possibly be. And we saw what Ryan
brings in Summerly, I think that he's going to be
able to play both sides of the court at a
(08:48):
really high level. I see a lot of Brook Lopez
in him, and it's funny that he wears number eleven,
So he's going to continue to grow and get a
lot of under feet in the.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Form of Indeed, I like maybe Splash Mountain Junior being
here in the Hornets, you know, for would love to
see it. That would be exciting, and he talked about
it we talked to him, I think not too long ago.
He said that you guys told him to let it
fly if he's open from three, and sure enough he
did that hit a couple out there in Vegas. Last
thing before we get you out of here, coach, just
some injury house cleaning. How are Grant Williams and Josh
(09:21):
Green progressing? And do you think they'll be ready by
the regular season.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
You know, I think both guys have been attacking their
rehab plans really well. Again, I can't. I always have
to just give credit to our performance staff and to
our coaching staff. They work so well together and putting
together these these roadmaps for our guys to be able
to return to play. And both guys are making progress.
(09:46):
I can't put a timetable on it as right now
when they will be back, but they are making positive
strides and I'm just really happy with how they show
up every day, how they're attacking their rehab. And you know,
you take a couple of steps forward and then all
of a sudden you might have a stepward step back.
But I think that in their mindset has just kind
of been not to let that slow them down, and
(10:07):
they're really focused on trying to be around the team
and get back to the team as soon as they can.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Charles Lee joining us here to discuss the schedule on
NBA schedule release Day, the head coach of the Hornets,
certainly wishing him a lot of luck. Coach, thank you
so much for the time. We appreciate it and we'll
talk to you down the road.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
No problem, thank you. I'm getting excited.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Ah, same here, coach. Thanks again. That's Charles Lee joining
us here on Sports Rated ninety two to seven WFNZ.
We're breaking down the NBA schedule on schedule release day,
sports Rading ninety two to seven WFNZ, the West Coast Roadies,
the home stands, back to backs, national games. All love
it and who better to talk about it more than
the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, Charles Lee. He
now joins us on the guest line Coach, thank you
so much for the time, my man, how are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm doing phenomenal, Walker, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Am Absolutely, I do want to know this. So we
look at all that stuff, the back to backs and
all of it. What's the thing you're looking at first
and foremost, as the head coach of an NBA basketball team,
what's the first thing you're looking at on schedule release day?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
So, first thing I'm looking at, who do we play
the first game of the season, and like, who do
I already like, my mind starts swing towards how are
we going to guard them? How are we going to
do this? And so I think, get to back it
up a little bit and remember there's other stuffs before that.
But first game is the first thing I look at.
And the second thing is like, when are we going
to play at home? So it's good to know. Are
we on the road, how's all the logistics of Christmas
(00:56):
is going to go with the fans?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
October twenty second is when you guys will be playing
that first home game and the first game of the season,
So you get to cross off a couple of things there.
But what are some things that we should be watching
for come preseason, coach, because we got that schedule just
a couple of days ago as well, what are some
things that you really want to iron out as you
approach the regular season. How much does the preseason matter
(01:18):
to you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Preseason matters a ton to us. I would say everything
matters to us. We talk a ton about daily improvement
and being obsessed with what that process looks like and
not skipping steps and just being present in that current moment.
And so anyway, just competing at a really high level,
how some we all impact winning and the things that
we've talked about. I think everyone has heard me talk
(01:41):
a ton about defense, But I would also like to
see our offense ive prove this year too, So as
we kind of go into the preseason, it will be
important for us to start improving in the offensive area too.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
All right, Well, let's just break down all the schedules, then,
shall we. The Cup schedule also released yesterday. We have
those games all taking place in November on a scale
from a normal regular season game to playoff game mode.
And you've had a lot of experience in the postseason,
how do you approach an NBA Cup game?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, Number one, the league has done a phenomenal job.
I think implementing these Cup games. I think the whole
process of it, I've really enjoyed it. It increases the
stakes with some of these regular season games and makes
them even a higher level of competition. I will say
my staff and I we try to elevate even our
level of prep going into those games. And so I
(02:31):
look forward to getting to those Cup games and seeing
how it all plays out. And then obviously you have
the point differential and needing to know do you need
to win by a certain amount or you can't lose
by a certain amount as you kind of continue in
the pool play and stuff. So I think we've got
a really good group that's going to challenge us in
our pool, and I look forward to really competing at
a high level there. Well.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I mean, you guys do pretty well in Vegas. I guess, so,
let's we got to get to Vegas and then we
can start bringing in some more titles, just like we
won with the some league title around here. And I
told you last year, coach, they denied us the California
Classic title. I still say we won it. We got
the championship and they decided not to give us one.
So I'm glad that you guys just went out there
and took it this time, fair and square. Of course,
(03:13):
we love Chris Gent around here. Now he's going to
be up in New York being the associate head coach
with Mike Brown working with him again. He was the
head coach for the Summer League squad. Coach, what are
you losing in Chris Jen's absence.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, well, first I'd just say, I'm with you. We
won every title we can possibly get. Yeah, and so
the Summer League title was really exciting. I was really
just proud. I think of our whole group for having
the right mindset, the right approach going in the Summer League,
understanding the importance of trying to build those winning habits
from day one, and I think that our young guys,
(03:45):
I think the coaching staff. I was just yelling in
a quick period of time and having to figure out
that uh got banged up along the way and missed
some games. And the compit that you play and the
atmosphere that you're in is a little bit closer to
an NBA setting. So it was really good to see
our guys perform well and the guy at the helm
(04:08):
making sure it all real ran really well and really smoothly.
With Christient and I think I'm number one, I'm really
happy for him. I think that he has a tremendous
opportunity ahead of him. I'm extremely grateful and thankful for
everything he did for our organization. He really helped us
last year, I think set a foundation for who we
want to be and what we want to be about.
(04:30):
And he's just he's been a great friend to me
throughout my whole coaching career, and so it'll be bittersweet
to have him leave, but I'm excited for him and
his new journey.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Breaking down the NBA schedule on Hornet's Schedule release Day,
head coach Charles Lee joining us now on the guest
line and coach. We've got to get to some of
these offseason moves man, especially free agency. I think the
move that got Hornets fans the most excited they kicked
everything off. It was the Colin Sexton trade. I host
the Lockdown Hornets podcast Wes and Walker here on w FNZ.
(05:02):
That got like a one hund approval rating from all
the sickos whom I engage with every day. Was Sexton
a guy you and Jeff Peterson had talked about before
then targeted. Did you find out he was available and
then make an offer like this move caught people by surprise?
Did it do the same to you?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
You know? I think Jeff and and his group, uh,
they are just so well prepared. I think that opportunities
that that come about they have studied, They understand are
are what we're looking for in players, and like what
those qualities look like. They understand what we need to
do from a rostered depth and balance standpoint two. And
(05:42):
I think as they were approached with a situation, they
broke it down, they prepared like they usually do. They
chopped it up and figured out what makes sense for
our team going forward. And I've been pleasant. I've been
very excited about Colin Sexton joining our group. I think
that I've always witness him competing at a really high level.
(06:02):
He can score the ball. I think that he's already
since he's been in with our group and around our group,
he's elevated. They all workouts and all the interactions competing.
Definitely a expociable, in your face type guy. But I
love it and I think that he's going to add
a lot to our group, into our culture.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
You have a lot of guards this year, not only
Colin Sexton, but you guys signed a lot in free agency.
You drafted a few guys out there on the perimeter
h this past election process. How does your team change
with the roster makeup you have now compared to what
it was last year.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Yeah, you know, I think that we had a pretty
good roster last year, but this year we're definitely a
little bit more versatile. I think, you know, we we
are big. We can play a lot of different ways
this year. Having Plumbly, having Cal Brinner, having Musa, it
allows you to be in center fields sometimes be able
to switch. And then, like you just said, having so
(07:00):
many guards and so many just competitors with high basketball IQ,
it's going to help us be able to play a
lot of different ways. I think if we watched the league,
everybody's playing a lot faster. It's becoming a lot more positionless.
And so I think that, you know, with this versatility
that we have of our of our roster and having
a lot more guards, a lot more ball handlers, that
can help us hopefully create some more open shots. I'm
(07:24):
really excited to see how how it all kind of
comes together.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, a lot of people have questions about the center rotation,
just because there was such a focus on guards in
the off season. But you did pick up Ryan Kalchbrenner,
you signed Mason Plumley. Of course you have Musa Diabate.
We love letting the moose loose around here, baby, So
we love Musa Diabate. How to see that center rotation
play now?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, you know, I think it's a good balance. Again,
you get a veteran and Plumbly, it's been around the
league a ton of experience. I think all that experience
has kind to help him understand what it takes to
really win. I think that he's been used as a starter,
he's been used as a role player coming off the bench,
and so he's going to be able to adapt to
whatever we need. I think that he's going to be
(08:05):
able to give a lot of corporate knowledge of the NBA.
He's a professional. He's in every day focused on his body.
He's focused on improving in the weight room and even
as however many years he's been in the league. Now
he understands and has a growth mindset, which is really
important I think for our group and being open minded.
And then again, I think Mussa had a phenomenal opportunity
(08:28):
to summer. He's continued to grow. He's like one of
our great success stories from a player development standpoint, and
his all in and commitment to just trying to be
better and try to be the most versatile and energetic
big you could possibly be. And we saw what Ryan
brings in Summerly, I think that he's going to be
able to play both sides of the court at a
(08:48):
really high level. I see a lot of Brook Lopez
in him, and it's funny that he wears number eleven,
So he's going to continue to grow and get a
lot of under feet in the.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Form of Indeed, I like maybe Splash Mountain Junior being
here in the Hornets, you know, for would love to
see it. That would be exciting, and he talked about
it we talked to him, I think not too long ago.
He said that you guys told him to let it
fly if he's open from three, and sure enough he
did that hit a couple out there in Vegas. Last
thing before we get you out of here, coach, just
some injury house cleaning. How are Grant Williams and Josh
(09:21):
Green progressing? And do you think they'll be ready by
the regular season.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
You know, I think both guys have been attacking their
rehab plans really well. Again, I can't. I always have
to just give credit to our performance staff and to
our coaching staff. They work so well together and putting
together these these roadmaps for our guys to be able
to return to play. And both guys are making progress.
(09:46):
I can't put a timetable on it as right now
when they will be back, but they are making positive
strides and I'm just really happy with how they show
up every day, how they're attacking their rehab. And you know,
you take a couple of steps forward and then all
of a sudden you might have a stepward step back.
But I think that in their mindset has just kind
of been not to let that slow them down, and
(10:07):
they're really focused on trying to be around the team
and get back to the team as soon as they can.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Charles Lee joining us here to discuss the schedule on
NBA schedule release Day, the head coach of the Hornets,
certainly wishing him a lot of luck. Coach, thank you
so much for the time. We appreciate it and we'll
talk to you down the road.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
No problem, thank you. I'm getting excited.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Ah, same here, coach. Thanks again. That's Charles Lee joining
us here on Sports Rated ninety two to seven WFNZ.
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