Naz Reid benched five games into first season with Hornets after strange sequence

Source: New York Post

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee said star forward Naz Reid was benched in the second half of a 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday because he “didn’t meet our standard” of play. Reid is currently in the second season of a five-year, $125 million contract he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2025 before being traded to the Hornets in June. “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,” Lee said after the game.