One of the The Detroit Pistons The Eastern Conference rivals will bring in a familiar face to join their coaching staff.
According to the NBA Coaches AssociationDJ Bakker is expected to join the Charlotte Hornets ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.
Bakker is expected to specialize in player development for the organization. James Edwards of The AthleticBakker is set to become the head coach of Charlotte’s G League organization, the Greensboro Swarm.
In 2018, Bakker joined the Pistons organization as a player development coach, working under former Pistons head coach Dwane Casey.
In 2020, Bakker was promoted to assistant and continued to serve as a player development specialist. From 2021 to 2022, Bakker served as the head coach of Detroit’s G League team, the Moto City Cruise.
Ahead of the 2023–24 NBA season, the Pistons made a major coaching change. After allowing Casey to step down as head coach so he could take on a leadership role, the Pistons hired Monty Williams after his stint with the Phoenix Suns.
Bakker was among the assistants who left the team for another job. He joined the Milwaukee Bucks to coach under first-year head coach Adrian Griffin. After a strange coaching change midway through the season, the Bucks hired Doc Rivers to take over. Bakker stayed on board.
The former Pistons assistant has formed a relationship with a former Bucks coach in Charlotte. From 2018 to 2023, Charles Lee coached the Bucks. Last year, he joined the Boston Celtics, who won the 2024 NBA Finals. With a Finals win under his belt as an assistant, Lee caught the attention of the Hornets. He became head coach in May.
Bakker is now set to lead the operations for a rebuilding Hornets G League roster.
