Coach Charles Lee ejected during Feb. 9, 2026 game

Following the bench-clearing altercation earlier in the third quarter, the Feb. 9, 2026 game featured additional tensions in the fourth quarter when Charles Lee, the Hornets head coach, was assessed an ejection for arguing a no-call with officials; local accounts describe Lee being restrained by staff as he protested the sequence and was escorted from the bench area [3][6]. The ejection occurred after the primary melee that had already seen four players tossed, and it intensified postgame scrutiny because a head coach's removal punctuated an already charged environment at the Spectrum Center that night [3]. Local reporting captured Lee's emotional reaction on the sideline and subsequent comments from team sources about the need for composure and accountability following the brawl and his ejection [6][3].

Lee's ejection matters because it underscored how the Feb. 9 melee affected more than just players: coaches and bench personnel were drawn into the game's disciplinary arc, and the removal of Charlotte's head coach contributed to the narrative that the contest had spiraled beyond standard on-court competition. It also highlighted how teams responded under league scrutiny during a high-profile incident that produced later suspensions [3][6][1].

After the ejection, local media and team spokespeople discussed Lee's behavior and restraint, and the Hornets addressed coach accountability in internal and public communications the following days; the club continued to focus on the upcoming schedule while the NBA processed suspensions for players involved in the melee [6][1]. Lee's ejection is recorded alongside player suspensions in season summaries of the Feb. 9 game and is cited in local coverage of how the team managed fallout both on and off the court [3][6].