Steve Clifford. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Hornets coach Steve Clifford to step down, but team's future seems bright

By Tommy Fradenburg | Last updated 4/3/24

Steve Clifford is stepping down as Charlotte Hornets head coach with the aim of taking a front-office role with the team at the end of the regular season, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday.

ESPN Sources: Steve Clifford is stepping down as the Charlotte Hornets’ coach at the end of the season and working to finalize a front office role with the franchise. Clifford informed his assistants and players on Wednesday morning. pic.twitter.com/b8ADCn4gFO
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 3, 2024

“This is the appropriate time for me to step down,” Clifford said in a statement released by the Hornets. “I believe this is best for me and the organization. I’m excited about the future of the Hornets — our young core of players, [GM Jeff Petersen‘s] leadership of our basketball operations and [team owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin‘s] vision for the organization. I want to thank all the Hornets players and staff for their work the past two seasons and our Hornets fans for their continued support of our team.”

This move shouldn't come as a surprise to fans of the Hornets (18-57), a franchise in transition.

In August, new owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin purchased a majority stake from Michael Jordan. In February, they hired Jeff Peterson to replace Mitch Kupchak as president of basketball operations.

Now the team will look for the next head coach to lead a young core in Charlotte with great potential.

While the losses have piled up, rookie guard Brandon Miller and forward Miles Bridges give Hornets fans reasons for optimism.

Miller, the second pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is averaging 17 points and earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month three times this season.

The best of March Eastern Conference @Kia Rookie of the Month Brandon Miller! #KiaROTM

18.6 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 2.6 APG pic.twitter.com/kdBfHcoQM6
— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2024

Meanwhile, Bridges — who missed all of 2022-23 and the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season due to legal issues — is leading the team in points (21.4 PPG) and assists (3.4 APG). He is a free agent after this season but seems interested in staying in Charlotte long term.

The biggest concern for the future in the Queen City is the health of guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball, who signed a five-year, $260 million extension before the season, played in just 22 games this season before the team shut him down due to an ankle injury. He averaged a career-best 23.9 points.

With Ball, Bridges and Miller, the Hornets need a coach who can manage multiple alpha personalities. If they find the right person, the future of the Hornets will be the brightest it has been in a long time.

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