The New Orleans Pelicans have fired head coach Willie Green after starting the season 2-10, the organization announced Saturday. Pelicans top assistant James Borrego has been named the interim head coach.
Green was 12 games into his fifth season at the helm in New Orleans. He amassed an overall record of 150-190 and two first-round playoff appearances over that span. The first-time NBA head coach’s tenure was heavily disrupted by injuries to key players, particularly star forward Zion Williamson.
The 2019 No. 1 overall pick missed all of Green’s first season in 2021-22 and played in just 29 games in 2022-23. Then after playing in 70 games in 2023-24 — helping the Pelicans to a 49-33 record — Williamson played in just 30 games last season as the Pelicans went 21-61. This season, Williamson has missed six straight games with a left hamstring strain, and New Orleans is in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the last team’s Green faced before his departure. With rumors swirling about Green’s job security, the Blazers didn’t help the matter by defeating the Pelicans 125-117 on the road on Wednesday. New Orleans followed that game up with a 118-104 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Green’s final game with the franchise.
