James Borrego Takes Over as Interim Coach After Pelicans Dismiss Willie Green
pelicans-name-james-borrego-interim-coach-after-willie-green-fired
The New Orleans Pelicans have removed Willie Green as head coach and elevated lead assistant James Borrego to interim status, multiple outlets reported Wednesday. Chris Haynes first disclosed Green’s dismissal, and ESPN’s Marc J. Spears confirmed Borrego’s promotion soon afterward. The organization later acknowledged both moves.
New Orleans sits at 2-10 following four consecutive losses, the worst record in the Western Conference. Internal discussions about Green’s future intensified earlier in the week, with reports indicating the front office was debating whether he would remain past the season’s opening stretch.
Team owner Gayle Benson told NOLA.com that the decision belonged to newly hired executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. Dumars ultimately opted for the change.
Green, 43, oversaw gradual improvement during his first three seasons—posting win totals of 36, 42 and 49—and reached the playoffs twice. A surge of injuries contributed to last season’s 21-61 slide, and the current campaign has provided little relief despite stretches with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones all available. The trio’s on-court net rating has ranked among the NBA’s poorest.
Borrego, 46, joined the Pelicans staff last offseason. League sources previously told reporter Marc Stein that New Orleans retained him with the possibility of a midseason coaching change in mind; the club even turned down the New York Knicks’ request to interview him for a top assistant role. Borrego’s head-coaching résumé includes an interim stint with the Orlando Magic in 2014-15 and four seasons leading the Charlotte Hornets, where he compiled a 148-183 record.
He now inherits a roster widely regarded as talented on paper but struggling to translate that potential into wins. The move marks the first major personnel decision under Dumars, and further steps could follow as the franchise attempts to reverse its course.
Source: Hoops Wire
