Hornets' New Coach Charles Lee Focuses on Defense in Training Camp

In the United States, the Charlotte Hornets began their training camp at Duke University, marking a new era under head coach Charles Lee. Lee emphasized the importance of defense, initiating practice with four consecutive defensive drills to address the team's poor performance in defensive metrics from the previous season, where they won only 21 games. Players noted Lee's upbeat and energetic coaching style, which aims to instill a strong defensive mindset. He identified Cody Martin, Josh Green, and Miller as key on-the-ball defenders, while also highlighting the need for improvement from star player LaMelo Ball, who has faced criticism for his defensive effort. Lee is focused on enhancing Ball's defensive skills, particularly off-the-ball engagement, as he believes Ball has the potential to excel defensively due to his length and athleticism. Lee's approach includes explaining the significance of defensive commitment to the players, aiming to foster a culture of accountability and effort on defense. He acknowledges that developing these habits will take time but is optimistic about the progress being made.