The New Orleans Pelicans have fired head coach Willie Green after a dismal 2-10 start to the season, signaling a major shake-up for a franchise grappling with persistent injuries and underperformance. Executive vice president Joe Dumars announced the decision on Saturday, with associate head coach James Borrego stepping in as interim leader for the remainder of the season.
Green’s dismissal comes amid one of the worst stretches in NBA history, as the Pelicans became the first team to lose three of their first six games by at least 30 points. The team’s 0-6 start was compounded by a four-game losing streak, including a 118-104 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in Green’s final game. New Orleans ranks among the bottom five in both offensive and defensive efficiency this season, highlighting systemic issues that plagued Green’s fifth year at the helm.
Injuries to key players have been a recurring theme, with star forward Zion Williamson limited to just five games due to a hamstring issue—an ailment that has sidelined him in four consecutive seasons. Williamson’s absence, coupled with injuries to Dejounte Murray (recovering from a torn Achilles) and Jordan Poole (quad strain), left the roster depleted and unable to establish consistency. Under Green, the Pelicans struggled to field a stable lineup, undermining efforts to build momentum.
Green’s tenure, which began in 2021 after he served as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, showed promise early on, including a 49-win season in 2023-24 that ended with a first-round playoff sweep. However, the team regressed to a 21-61 record in 2024-25, and Dumars, who replaced former executive David Griffin in April, cited a lack of identity and repeated failures as primary reasons for the change. “It really wasn’t the won-lost record as the ultimate determining factor,” Dumars explained. “We have to establish who we’re going to be here in New Orleans going forward.”
James Borrego, a former Charlotte Hornets coach who was a finalist for several head coaching jobs in 2024, now takes over an interim role with full support from Dumars. Borrego had attracted interest from other teams this offseason, including the New York Knicks, but remained with the Pelicans. Dumars emphasized that Borrego has autonomy over rotations and playing time, with no mandates to prioritize rookies like Derik Queen or Jeremiah Fears, despite the team’s investment in young talent.
The Pelicans’ front office moves have added pressure, as the team traded unprotected first-round picks in 2026 to acquire Queen and other assets, leaving them without a first-round selection next year. This complicates the rebuild, especially with Williamson’s health uncertainties and a roster that lacks depth and shooting. Dumars expressed confidence in the current players but acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “I’m concerned about the guys we have here… I am not sitting here worried about the pick that we don’t have.”
Looking forward, the firing underscores broader issues for a franchise that has won only two playoff series since moving to New Orleans in 2003, despite drafting superstars like Chris Paul and Anthony Davis. Borrego’s immediate task is to stabilize the team and evaluate talent, but long-term success will require addressing roster flaws and fostering a cohesive identity. The change may mark the beginning of a painful reboot for the Pelicans, who aim to reclaim competitiveness in a tough Western Conference.
As the NBA season progresses, all eyes will be on how Borrego manages the interim role and whether key players like Williamson can return to form. The Pelicans’ decision reflects a urgency to reverse course, but with limited assets and injury woes, the path to improvement remains steep. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if this coaching change can spark the turnaround the organization desperately needs.
