May 20, 2022 – Charlotte Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan announced today that the team has signed President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak to a multiyear contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Mitch has done a great job leading our organization,” said Jordan. “He and his staff have assembled a talented, young team, and I’m excited about our future. I look forward to continuing to work with Mitch in the years ahead as our team continues to improve.”
Kupchak, who was hired by Charlotte on April 8, 2018, has been responsible for leading the organization’s day-to-day basketball operations for the last four seasons. During his tenure, Kupchak has overhauled the Hornets roster through significant personnel moves including drafting 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, acquiring the rights to Miles Bridges in a draft-night trade and completing a sign-and-trade for Terry Rozier. Additionally, the Hornets have maximized the second round of the NBA Draft with selections such as Cody Martin and Jalen McDaniels. The Hornets currently have two first-round picks in next month’s NBA Draft (Nos. 13 and 15), as well as the 45th pick. Charlotte has improved its win total in each of the last three seasons.
Prior to joining the Hornets, Kupchak spent more than 30 years as a front office executive with the Los Angeles Lakers. After his NBA playing career with Washington and Los Angeles, Kupchak began working in the Lakers’ front office in 1986 under NBA Hall-of-Famers Jerry West and Bill Sharman. Kupchak was named general manager of the Lakers in 2000, serving in that role for 17 seasons in which Los Angeles won four NBA Championships and six Western Conference Championships, posting a 747-607 (.552) regular-season record and a 111-66 (.627) postseason record.
As a player and executive, Kupchak has been a part of 10 NBA Championship teams – three as a player (one in Washington and two in Los Angeles) and seven as a Lakers executive.
The 13th overall pick in the first round of the 1976 NBA Draft, Kupchak played nine NBA seasons in Washington and Los Angeles before a knee injury forced him to retire. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 510 regular-season contests. Kupchak earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors during the 1976-77 season and averaged a career-high 15.9 points (.512 field goal percentage) and 6.9 rebounds per game during Washington’s championship season in 1977-78. He was traded to Los Angeles in 1981, where he played a key role off the bench in the Lakers’ 1985 NBA Championship. Kupchak played collegiately at the University of North Carolina where he was an All-American standout. He is one of 53 players to have their jersey honored and raised to the rafters of the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
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