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Tim BontempsESPN
The Charlotte Hornets are sacking coach James Borrego, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Borrego, 44, was between 138 and 163 during his four seasons in Charlotte – the last three of which came as the Hornets were rebuilding in the wake of the franchise icon Kimba WalkerHe will be leaving for Boston in free agency in 2019.
Over the past three seasons, Borrego has overseen 10-game improvements for the Hornets on a year-over-year basis. Charlotte has gone from 23-42 in 2019-20 to 33-39 in 2020-21 to 43-39 this season.
Borrego has also overseen the player development successes of lamillo ballRookie last season and All-Star winner this season, Miles Bridgeswho is marching to secure a big contract this summer as a restricted free agent, and Graham Defontewho was ranked fifth in the 2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player vote.
Charlotte’s season ended last week in the championship, losing 132-103 to the Atlanta Hawks. This was the second year in a row that the Hornets lost their first game play as the 10th seed. Charlotte participated in two games of playing without her. Gordon Haywardwho was outside injured.
Borrego previously served as coach of the Orlando Magic for the last 30 games of the 2014-15 season, replacing Jack Vaughn after he was sent off mid-season. He also worked as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, and Magic.
The Hornets have missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and have only made them three times over the course of 18 seasons since their return to the NBA in 2004, failing to get out in the first round on every appearance.