Pelicans Make Drastic Coaching Change After Poor Start
The New Orleans Pelicans have taken decisive action by dismissing head coach Willie Green on Saturday following the team's disappointing 2-10 start to the current NBA season. The move comes after mounting pressure on the franchise to address their early-season struggles.
Executive Decision and Interim Appointment
Pelicans executive vice-president of basketball operations Joe Dumars confirmed the coaching change and announced that top assistant James Borrego would step up as interim head coach. Borrego brings previous NBA head coaching experience from his four-season tenure with the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022, where he compiled a 138-163 record.
Dumars emphasised that the decision wasn't solely based on the win-loss record. "It really wasn't the won and lost record as the ultimate determining factor," Dumars stated. "We have to establish who is going to be here in New Orleans going forward and I just did not see that happening."
The executive expressed concern about the team's repetitive performance issues, noting they were "losing the same way, over and over again" without showing signs of improvement.
Green's Tenure and Challenges
Willie Green, who was in his fifth season as Pelicans coach, finishes his New Orleans career with a 150-190 record across four-plus seasons. Hired to his first head coaching position in 2021 by former basketball operations chief David Griffin, Green led the Pelicans to the playoffs twice during his tenure.
His teams reached the postseason in 2022 and 2024, though both campaigns ended with first-round exits against Phoenix and Oklahoma City respectively. The 2023 season saw the Pelicans qualify for the Western Conference play-in tournament, only to be eliminated by Oklahoma City.
Green's coaching challenges were compounded by the frequent injury absences of star power forward Zion Williamson. The 2019 first overall draft pick played in just 134 of the 340 games Green coached, representing only about 39% of available matches. This season alone, Williamson has missed seven games due to a bruised foot and subsequent strained left hamstring.
Roster Changes and Recent Performance
Despite Dumars deciding to retain Green for this final contract season, the team's performance failed to meet expectations. The Pelicans began the regular season with a six-game losing streak that included three defeats by 30 or more points.
A brief resurgence saw New Orleans win two consecutive games, but the team has since suffered four straight losses, including Friday night's 118-104 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Cup competition.
Dumars had provided Green with a strengthened roster featuring free-agent veterans Kevon Looney, Sadiq Bey and Jordan Poole, along with two first-round draft picks - Jeremiah Fears (seventh overall) and Derik Queen (13th overall).
Franchise Expectations and Future
Team owner Gayle Benson, who has faced increasing public scrutiny during difficult seasons for both the Pelicans and NFL's Saints, expressed her trust in Dumars's decision-making while acknowledging the difficulty of the move.
"I have tremendous admiration and respect for Willie Green, and I truly appreciate all he has done for our organization over the last few years," Benson said. "My expectation is to be a winning team that competes for championships."
Dumars indicated that Borrego's promotion is expected to last through the remainder of the season, though he couldn't guarantee whether "unforeseen" circumstances might alter that plan. The executive expressed confidence in Borrego's capabilities, noting he "has sat in the head-coaching seat before in the NBA and understands the job".
The Pelicans face their first test under new leadership on Sunday night when they host the Golden State Warriors at home.
