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Chris Jent leaving Hornets to join Knicks as associate head coach

Charlotte will be without one of its top player development minds as Chris Jent joins Mike Brown’s staff in New York.
Thomas Gorski|
Jan 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (3) (left) talks with assistant coach Chris Jent center prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Jan 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (3) (left) talks with assistant coach Chris Jent center prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

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Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets may have had a strong offseason, but they’re about to lose one of their most trusted voices on the bench.

On Friday night, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that assistant coach Chris Jent is finalizing a deal to become the associate head coach of the New York Knicks under Mike Brown. The move brings Jent back to New York, where he played during the 1996-97 season, with Tyler Glass of CSE Talent helping negotiate the deal.

He brings a ton of NBA experience and really knows how to run an offense. He and Mike Brown go way back to their Cleveland days, where they helped guide a young LeBron James. That familiarity should make it easy for him to slide right into the Knicks’ coaching staff.

Jent’s really good at helping younger players figure things out and get better. He’s been around a bunch of teams — Lakers, Cavs, Hawks — and everyone pretty much agrees he’s a solid coach to have around.

That’s why this one stings for Charlotte. 

Head coach Charles Lee is losing more than just an assistant — he’s losing someone who’s had a major hand in developing the Hornets’ young core. Jent also coached the team’s Summer League squad, the same group that just delivered the franchise’s first-ever Summer League championship.

For a team banking its future on youth, losing Jent is more than a coaching change — it’s losing one of the architects of their progress. And it’s a gap the Hornets could feel long after the Summer League trophy celebration fades.

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Thomas Gorski
THOMAS GORSKI

Tom Gorski is a journalist currently covering the Charlotte Hornets for On SI, with extensive experience in basketball, football, and golf coverage. He is pursuing a Master’s degree in Sports Media at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism after earning his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Communication from DePaul University. Tom’s professional experience includes roles with The Sporting News, 247 Sports, The award-winning DePaulia newspaper, and the Region Radio Sports Network. He has covered both college and high school athletics, providing a well-rounded perspective on sports at various levels.

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