Pelicans oust Willie Green after slow start in season’s first NBA coaching shakeup

The NBA play is little than a afloat period old, but the New Orleans Pelicans person already made a important change. Willie Green is retired arsenic the Pelicans caput manager aft conscionable 12 games, the squad confirmed Saturday. 

The Pelicans person dropped their past 4 games and beryllium astatine 2-10 erstwhile they participate Sunday’s crippled against the Golden State Warriors. 

"After cautious evaluation, we person made the hard determination to marque a alteration astatine caput coach," Joe Dumars, Pelicans enforcement vice president of hoops operations said successful a statement. "I person the utmost respect for Willie Green, and I'm sincerely appreciative of his contributions to the Pelicans enactment and the New Orleans community. We privation him and his household each the champion successful the future."

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New Orleans Pelicans caput manager Willie Green looks connected against the Utah Jazz during the 2nd fractional astatine Smoothie King Center.  (Stephen Lew/Imagn Images)

To marque matters worse, New Orleans started the play connected a six-game losing skid and mislaid cardinal players to injury. Zion Williamson’s availability has erstwhile again been constricted by a hamstring contented causing his latest setback.

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Williamson, the apical enactment successful the 2019 NBA Draft, has dealt with immoderate signifier of hamstring occupation successful each of the past 4 seasons. Williamson is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists done 5 games this season.

The Pelicans' defence has been an contented successful the aboriginal information of the season. New Orleans has failed to clasp immoderate hostile beneath 101 points.

Assistant James Borrego was named the Pelicans' interim coach. Borrego drew involvement from aggregate NBA teams during the 2024 head-coaching rhythm but yet chose to stay with the Pelicans.

James Borrego looks connected during a crippled against the Dallas Mavericks astatine the Smoothie King Center successful New Orleans, Louisiana. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports)

Green was named the Pelicans’ caput manager successful 2021. He ends his tenure aft less than 5 afloat seasons with a 150-190 record.

In summation to not having Williamson for respective games, Green besides had to contend with Jordan Poole's absence. Poole is dealing with a quad strain.

Head manager Willie Green of the New Orleans Pelicans looks connected successful the archetypal 4th against the Indiana Pacers astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse connected Nov. 25, 2024, successful Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, defender Dejounte Murray has yet to instrumentality to the tribunal aft suffering a torn Achilles successful January.

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Green coached the Pelicans to 49 wins during the 2023-24 regular play and a postseason appearance.

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