Hornets forward Naz Reid was benched for the entire second half of Wednesday’s 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons. It’s a tough look when a player gets pulled like that, especially with the game still on the line.
The Coach’s Blunt Take
Hornets head coach Charles Lee didn’t mince words when reporters asked about the decision after the game. He told them straight up, “Unfortunately, Naz didn’t meet our standards in the first half and at halftime we made the decision that he wouldn’t play in the second half.” That’s a pretty clear message right there from the coach. Lee then added, “But I look forward to him meeting those standards come next game,” putting the ball squarely back in Reid’s court.
Reid only saw 13 minutes of action in the first half. During that time, he put up seven points and grabbed six rebounds. He shot 2-of-6 from the field and managed one block. Those numbers aren’t terrible for a limited stint, but clearly, they weren’t enough to hit Coach Lee’s “standards.”
It’s never easy when a player gets benched for not meeting expectations, especially when the team ends up losing. After a performance that didn’t cut it, all eyes will be on how Reid responds in the next outing. Coach Lee made his stance clear, and now it’s up to Reid to show he’s ready to meet those standards.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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