AP Photo/Rusty JonesThe Charlotte Hornets fired head coach James Borrego on Friday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Borrego was the head coach of the Hornets for four seasons, and he did not make the playoffs.
The Charlotte Hornets have lost in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, including a defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks this year.
Borrego was hired as the head coach of the New Orleans Hornets in the summer of 2018).
They missed the playoffs with a 39-43 record in the year before, but dropped off to 23-42 in the year after, largely because of the departure of Kemba Walker.
The Hornets had the chance to land a potential franchise-changing player in the 2020 draft, but they chose guard LaMelo Ball with the No. 3 overall pick.
The Hornets were the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and lost to the Pacers in the playoffs.
The Hornets had a winning record for the first time under Borrego. It would have been good enough for a playoff spot in the past, but with the Eastern Conference improving as a whole, it only netted Charlotte the 10th seed.
The Hornets were defeated by the Hawks in the play-in tournament.
The Hornets have missed the playoffs in each of the past six seasons, and they will look for a new head coach who can get their young, talented roster over the hump.
Borrego is unlikely to get another head coaching job immediately, but he should be able to catch on as an assistant.
He won two NBA titles as an assistant with the Spurs, so it isn't out of the question that he could join Popovich's staff for a third time.
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