Charlotte Hornets Interviewing 4 Coaches For Head Job

The Charlotte Hornets are ramping up their search for a new head coach, now readying to start interviews with their top candidates. According to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, those candidates consist of some top assistants and one long-time head coach.

ESPN Sources: The Charlotte Hornets are beginning to interview candidates for their head coaching job, including Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, Milwaukee assistant Darvin Ham, Dallas assistant Sean Sweeney and Mike D'Antoni.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 3, 2022

Mike D'Antoni has been labeled as a "serious candidate", according to Woj, "especially because of the possibility of pairing him with young point guard LaMelo Ball, sources said."

The 70-year-old D'Antoni has had a 15-year coaching career, with a .560 winning percentage. He is well-known as the architect of the 7-seconds-or-less offense with the Phoenix Suns in the 2000s, and for coaching a Houston Rockets team for fours at the end of the previous decade. That team, which featured James Harden, had plenty of regular-season success, but fizzled out in the playoffs. 

Kenny Atkinson is a Golden State Warriors assistant who coached the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons until Kevin Durant pushed for bringing in Steve Nash. Darvin Ham, the Milwaukee Bucks assistant, has interviewed for numerous head coaching gigs over the past few years. The Los Angeles Lakers have already asked for permission to interview Ham as well.

Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney is serving under Jason Kidd for the third time, covering nine seasons now, and is one of Dallas's top assistants. 

And while those interviews take place, the Hornets will also be keeping an eye on the Quin Snyder situation in Utah, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein.

The Charlotte Hornets would have interest in hiring Quin Snyder as head coach should he not return to the Utah Jazz. (via @TheSteinLine) pic.twitter.com/3xnWq5flkr

— Hornets Culture 🐝 (@hornetsculture) May 2, 2022

James Borrego led Hornets to 43-39 record this season

Charlotte is in the market for a replacement for James Borrego, who was fired at the end of season after the Hornets were eliminated in the Play-In game. Borrego compiled a 138-163 record with the Bugs in four seasons, and in fact, improved the team's win total by 10 games each of the last two years. The Hornets finished 43-39 in 2021-22, which was 10th in the Eastern Conference. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Play-In tournament. 

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports