METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Tuesday that interim coach James Borrego will be considered for the club’s permanent head-coaching position, even as the front office weighs external candidates.
“Yes, James Borrego is a candidate,” Dumars told reporters at the team’s practice facility. “No, we don’t have a list yet … but definitely, James is a candidate for this job permanently going forward.”
Dumars, hired last year after the dismissal of David Griffin, declined to give a timeline for completing the search, saying only that his goal is “to get it right.”
Season review
The Pelicans finished the 2025-26 campaign 26-56, closing the schedule Sunday night. Borrego went 24-46 after replacing Willie Green, who was fired following a 2-10 start in November.
Dumars praised the interim coach’s “ability to communicate with his team every day and to do it in a positive way,” adding that Borrego kept the locker room from “completely collapsing” during a difficult season.
Asked whether retaining Borrego would signal complacency to a fan base that has seen only two first-round playoff series victories since 2002, Dumars rejected the notion. “I think it’s the person and how people react to the person inside the building,” he said.
Players weigh in
All-Star forward Zion Williamson, who appeared in 62 games and averaged 21 points, said Borrego “made the most of his opportunity” under “not the most convenient of circumstances.” Other players offered similar praise while deferring to Dumars on the final decision.
Borrego’s case
The 48-year-old coach, previously the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, has served two assistant stints in New Orleans, including from 2023 until his mid-season promotion. He cited strong relationships across the roster and highlighted development strides by 2025 first-round picks Jeremiah Fears (14.3 points per game) and Derik Queen (11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds).
New Orleans played 34 games decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes, going 10-24 in those “clutch” situations. Borrego said an entire offseason in charge would help the club address late-game issues and overall consistency. “I did the most with what I was given,” he said. “With an offseason, you’re going to make strides.”
He also cautioned against assuming that another coaching change would automatically spark improvement. “There is no complacency here. The goal is to win,” Borrego said. “You can over-correct, under-correct. The bottom line is this is a motivated group to get better.”
The Pelicans have missed the postseason in back-to-back years and in three of the past four seasons.
Source: ESPN
