The secret is out and Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee is none too happy about it.
For the second straight year, the Hornets have come to the Lowcountry to open their preseason training camp at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House.
While the Hornets are not the first NBA team to spend a few days in Charleston during training camp, they have become frequent visitors.
And the word about The Citadel’s facilities and hospitality is getting around to other NBA franchises.
Charlotte Hornets’ head coach Charles Lee speaks with reporters after practice at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Charleston.
Gavin McIntyre/Staff
The Boston Celtics are schedule to arrive in the Lowcountry on Oct. 4 for three days of practice. There was a third prominent NBA franchise that inquired about coming down this week as well, but The Citadel had no vacancy for another team.
Besides the Hornets and Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers (2022) and the New York Knicks (2023, 2024) have practiced at The Citadel in preparation for the regular season.
“I know, I heard the Celtics were coming and you guys in the media have to stop saying how great The Citadel is,” Lee said with a chuckle. “It’s great to be back at The Citadel and it’s great to be back in Charleston. We are super thankful that they allow us to use their facilities and resources.
“It’s a great environment to come into for our group. Charleston has so much to offer. I love the food scene here and it’s got great weather this time of year and we’re close to the water. Charleston is a destination for a lot of reasons.”
One of the best features of McAlister Field House and a reason why so many NBA teams work out at The Citadel is that the facility can support three full-length basketball courts under the same roof.
Charlotte Hornets’ Pat Connaughton (21), Royce O’Neale (00), Liam McNeeley (33) and Moussa Diabate (14) shoot free throws after practice at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Charleston.
Gavin McIntyre/Staff
“That’s such a huge deal, it’s so nice to have those three courts side-by-side,” Lee said. “Your roster during preseason is normally bigger than the one during the regular season. We’ll have 20, maybe 21 guys in camp, so it’s so nice to have three courts and a weight room right next door.
“Not only is The Citadel accommodating with their schedule, but the resources they offer us are phenomenal. I love getting away from Charlotte because I think it allows our guys to bond and grow as a team early in the process.”
The Hornets and Celtics are obviously getting something rewarding out of their experience in Charleston, but what does The Citadel get in return?
For starters, a little extra cash for their athletic budget.
The Hornets paid about $25,000 to use the facility for five days, while the Celtics will pay around $15,000 during their time at the downtown military school.
“Long before I got here, there were NBA teams coming to Charleston during the preseason,” said The Citadel athletic director Art Chase. “The extra income is nice, but having them on our campus benefits us in other ways that maybe are not as measurable. This is a business trip for NBA teams, so it would be like if IBM decided to have a conference here in Charleston, it’s a destination that their employees are going to enjoy during their downtime.
“The logistics of our facility are perfect for what they want. There are very few distractions on our campus, unlike if they were practicing at a bigger school. They can pull up in their bus and walk less than 50 feet to get into the facility. That’s perfect. We have a lot going for us.”
Bulldogs head basketball coach Ed Conroy said having NBA players working out in their facility is priceless.
Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel (7) walks across the court to shoot free throws after practice at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Charleston.
Gavin McIntyre/Staff
“All of our players want to play in the NBA,” Conroy said. “Our guys get to see how they work on their craft, how they go about being pros, so that speaks volumes more to them than I ever could because those NBA guys are going through it right now.
“It’s a huge positive for us, especially this time of year because our guys are seeing the NBA guys develop good habits and go through a lot of the same things they are going through early in the season.”
Senior guard Keynan Davis said just watching NBA players go through a normal practice has made him rethink the way he works out. While Davis tries to keep his distance from the NBA players, they have been willing to share their knowledge with him.
“When the Knicks were in town, I got to talk with Karl-Anthony Towns, which was really cool,” Davis said. “You see their attention to detail was intense. If a player got a certain action wrong, it was immediately corrected by the coaching staff. You have to know your stuff in the NBA and I realized if I wanted to play at that level that’s the focus I needed to have.”