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NBA: Best player and coach pairing from each team’s history

By Tony Pesta

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Best coach/player pairing in Charlotte Hornets history: Steve Clifford & Kemba Walker

Digging through the history of the Charlotte Hornets, it was not easy finding a suitable player/coach duo worthy of this list. At the end of the day, we have to give credit to the best player to ever suit up for the franchise, Kemba Walker.

Playing eight seasons for the Hornets, Walker bloomed into a three-time All-Star and is the franchise’s all-time leader in points. A large reason for Walkers success was the guidance of his head coach, Steve Clifford.

Clifford joined the team during Walkers third season in the NBA. His immediate presence helped Kemba become a better playmaker, averaging a career-high 6.1 assists per game in the 2013-14 season.

Steve Clifford accolades:

  • 2013-14 Coach of the Month (April)
  • 2015-16 Coach of the Month (March)
  • 2018-19 Coach of the Month (March)

Together, this duo did not achieve much in terms of playoff success. The Hornets only reached the postseason twice in the last eight years and were defeated in the first round both times.

Regardless, Walker and Clifford served as beacons of hope that dragged the franchise out of a historically bad run. From 2010-2012, the Hornets had an overall record of 16-78. Once Clifford and Walker took over, the squad won 48 games in the 2015-16 season. This is the most wins the franchise has had in a single season since the 1999-00 season.