Despite the finality of it all, Steve Clifford didn’t lose his sense of humor.
“I am hopeful that when I do go in (Monday) to get my stuff, my finger thing still works where I can get in,” said Clifford, who coached his final game on Sunday. “Except for that it’s not a big deal.”
Nonchalant until the very end, Clifford called it a career after two decades in the NBA, and at least the Charlotte Hornets sent the 62-year-old out victorious. With their few healthy key players serving mostly as spectators, joining the likes of LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, Seth Curry and Cody Martin on the bench, the Hornets finished the season with a 120-110 win over Cleveland at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.