Celtics

Celtics assistant coach reportedly candidate for Lakers head coaching job

Charles Lee was hired as the Celtics’ top assistant coach in June 2023.

By Kaley Brown

May 3, 2024

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The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a new head coach, and they’re reportedly interested in one Celtics assistant for the job.

Charles Lee is one of many candidates to replace Darvin Ham, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. Ham was fired by the Lakers Friday.

Having won the NBA Finals in 2021 as an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lee has been interviewed by several NBA teams for head coaching jobs over the last few years. He was a finalist for the New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards’ head coach positions last year.

After being rejected by those teams in favor of other candidates, Lee was hired by Boston to be the team’s top assistant coach last June. The 39-year-old was also reportedly considered by the Celtics following Brad Stevens’s move from head coach to the team’s president of basketball operations.

Lee’s Boston tenure could be cut short after one season, though. He is also a candidate for the Charlotte Hornets’ vacant head coach job, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Lee has been a key part of the Celtics’ dominant 2023-24 season, and head coach Joe Mazzulla has praised the assistant since hiring him a year ago.

“He’s worked for one of the best coaches in the last 20 years in the NBA,” Mazzulla said in October. “He’s been an NBA champion. He’s had NBA interviews. And just his humility and approach to the game, it’s a no-brainer to not have on your staff.”