New Orleans Pelicans to hire Jamahl Mosley on five-year contract
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The New Orleans Pelicans have reached a five-year agreement with former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley to become the franchise’s head coach, sources told ESPN on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Mosley, 47, spent the past five seasons in Orlando and guided the Magic to three straight playoff appearances despite significant injuries. He was dismissed on May 4, one day after the Magic lost Game 7 of a first-round series to the Detroit Pistons after holding a 3-1 lead. The firing quickly placed him atop the market for available coaches.
According to sources, Pelicans executives kept in regular contact with Mosley following his departure from the Magic and met with him in person last week during the NBA draft combine in Chicago.
Executive vice president Joe Dumars conducted a broad search that included Milwaukee Bucks assistants Darvin Ham and Rajon Rondo, Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and interim Pelicans coach James Borrego before zeroing in on Mosley.
The organization believes its current stage mirrors the rebuilding situation Mosley inherited in Orlando in 2021, when the Magic were coming off a 21-win season. Under his leadership, Orlando improved each year and reached the postseason in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Mosley finished second in the 2023-24 Coach of the Year voting and recorded 189 regular-season victories, the third-highest total in Magic history.
Defense became a hallmark of his tenure, with Orlando ranking No. 3 in defensive efficiency in 2023-24, No. 2 in 2024-25 and No. 11 this season.
In New Orleans, Mosley will oversee a roster featuring young players Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and Yves Missi alongside veterans Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones. The Pelicans finished last season 26-56 and possess only the No. 58 pick in June’s draft after trading their 2025 first-round selection to move up for Queen a year ago.
Source: ESPN
