Charlotte Hornets hire former NBA assistant as new head coach of Greensboro Swarm

The Charlotte Hornets have their new G League head coach.

D.J. Bakker, who recently served on the coaching staffs of the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons, becomes the fourth head coach of the Greensboro Swarm. He’s been in the NBA for the past 11 years, making a name for himself as both an assistant and player development coach.

“In my conversations with (Jeff Peterson and Charles Lee), it quickly became clear that we share the same core basketball values and philosophies,” Bakker said in a news release. “I fully believe in their vision of accountability, hard work and player development, and look forward to implementing these characteristics daily with the Swarm.

“Our fans can expect a team that competes every night, plays with passion and works at both ends of the court. I cannot wait to get started.”

Bakker’s path from player development to head coach

A Highland, Indiana, native who played at Trinity Christian College in Chicago, Bakker got his start in the NBA in 2009.

Bakker was the video coordinator for the Chicago Bulls in the 2009-10 season, and returned to The Association as an regional advance scout for the Orlando Magic three years later — after working as a player development coach with an athletic trainer in Chicago. His experience working with individual athletes kept him in the NBA, and he went on to serve in player development roles with the Dallas Mavericks (2015-16) and Toronto Raptors (2016-18).

After working with players like Pascal Siakam, Bakker spent five seasons with the Detroit Pistons between 2018 and 2023. He began as a player development coach, was eventually promoted to an assistant coach and served as the head coach of the Motor City Cruise. He compiled a 39-25 (.609) record over two years coaching Detroit’s NBA G League affiliate, beginning in their inaugural 2021-22 season.

“We are thrilled to introduce D.J. Bakker as the head coach of the Greensboro Swarm,” Peterson, the Hornets’ first-year president of basketball operations, said in a release. “D.J. brings 11 years of professional coaching experience, has an extensive background in player development and talent evaluation, and he is a proven leader at the NBA and G League levels.

“His communications skills allow him to build strong relationships with his players and staff, and his emphasis on work ethic, preparation and development is in lockstep with our organizational values. We are looking forward to beginning our partnership with D.J. as we welcome him, his wife, Laura, and their family to the Carolinas.”