Early in Naz Reid’s tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, head coach Charles Lee had a problem with him that led to the forward being benched in a winnable game. Since then, it looks like Lee’s approach has motivated Reid, as he is playing well.
Considering the Hornets do not have Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel as the star players, someone has to step up. In recent games, Reid and Grayson Allen have stepped up, including in the most recent game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Charles Lee appreciates what Naz Reid has done as of late
Over the past six games since that benching, Reid has averaged 17.6 points per game. He has done well to step up as one of the go-to guys, and that paid off, especially in the game against Cleveland on Monday.
He scored 25 points while Allen scored 27 points. They were the driving force behind the massive victory against the Cavs, which was a mostly dominant performance.
MORE: Why Charles Lee blasted Naz Reid in a matchup against the Pistons
After the game, Lee made sure to single out Reid for being one of the standout players. Of course, Allen played his part, but Reid was such an important reason behind their team’s success.
“I’m glad that some shots went down, but I love the defensive intensity probably even more. It’s really cool to see (Naz Reid) becoming an elite two-way player and giving it to us on both ends of the floor,” Lee said after the game about Reid’s phenomenal performance.
As the Hornets continue this season, Reid will continue to have a big role. Considering they still don’t have Miller and Knueppel, Reid will continue to be a first-option type of player.
