CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins said head coach Steve Clifford remains hospitalized after being admitted late Thursday night because he was not feeling well.
Higgins said in a release Friday that “as a precaution (Clifford) was held overnight and is undergoing additional tests.”
Higgins said it’s unclear if the Clifford will coach Friday night against the New York Knicks.
Clifford, 52, joined the Bobcats this offseason after spending last year as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bobcats are off to a 3-2 start.
Clifford becomes the second professional coach to be hospitalized in the last week. Denver Broncos coach John Fox was admitted with chest pains last week after experiencing pain on the golf course.
If Clifford can’t coach, it’s expected that Patrick Ewing _ is chief assistant _ would run the team.
Clifford joined the Bobcats on May 29, replacing Mike Dunlap, who was fired after the Bobcats went 21-61.
The Bobcats have been thrilled with Clifford’s approach thus far, saying he has the right makeup to deal with professional players.
He spent 13 seasons as an NBA assistant coach for the Knicks, Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets and Lakers.
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