The Charlotte Hornets are working to hire San Antonio Spurs assistant coach James Borrego as their new head coach, ESPN reports.
The Hornets have failed to go past the first round of the playoffs in 16 years, missed the playoffs entirely two years in a row and finished with a 36-46 record in consecutive seasons. Franchise player Kemba Walker also is set to be a free agent next summer.
Borrego, 40, started his NBA career as an assistant in San Antonio in 2003. After seven years with the Spurs, Borrego served as an assistant for the New Orleans Hornets. In 2015, Borrego gained his first head coaching experience in Orlando after the Magic fired Jacque Vaughn. Filling in for Vaughn, Borrego finished the 2014-2015 season with a 10-20 record as interim head coach. Since then, Borrego returned to San Antonio as an assistant coach on Gregg Popovich’s staff.
Borrego signed with Charlotte after also interviewing with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.