New Orleans Pelicans Opt for Coaching Change Amidst Dismal Start, James Borrego Assumes Interim Role

The New Orleans Pelicans organization announced Saturday a significant leadership transition, parting ways with head coach Willie Green following a deeply disappointing 2-10 start to the 2025-26 NBA season. The decision marks an abrupt end to Green’s tenure, which began in 2021 with considerable optimism, but ultimately succumbed to a confluence of injuries, inconsistent performance, and a particularly brutal opening stretch that included an NBA-record three losses by 30 points or more within the first six games of the current campaign. Associate head coach James Borrego has been appointed interim head coach, effective immediately, as the franchise embarks on yet another search for stability.

"After careful evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to make a change at head coach," stated Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Pelicans, in a press release confirming the move. "I have the utmost respect for Willie Green, and I’m sincerely appreciative of his contributions to the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans community. We wish him and his family all the best in the future." Dumars, who assumed his role in the previous offseason, had inherited Green from the prior general manager, David Griffin, and had initially afforded Green the opportunity to prove his long-term viability for the position. The team’s performance through the initial weeks of the season, however, evidently failed to meet the organization’s expectations.

Willie Green’s coaching journey with the Pelicans commenced in the summer of 2021, following a distinguished playing career and a well-regarded stint as an assistant coach under Monty Williams with the Phoenix Suns. His experience as a former NBA player, coupled with his reputation for strong player relationships and defensive acumen, made him an appealing candidate for a New Orleans team eager to capitalize on the burgeoning talent of Zion Williamson, who was then entering his third professional season. The Pelicans, at that juncture, also possessed a substantial cache of draft capital acquired from the trades involving Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, alongside a promising core of young players including Brandon Ingram, and a highly touted 2021 draft class featuring Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Jose Alvarado. The initial vision was clear: build a competitive, defensively stout team around their foundational stars.

Green’s inaugural season, 2021-22, saw the Pelicans finish 36-46, a modest improvement from the previous year. Despite a challenging start, Green guided the team through the Play-In Tournament, securing a playoff berth against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns. Though they ultimately fell in six games, the unexpected postseason appearance and the gritty play displayed by the young roster were seen as significant progress and a testament to Green’s ability to galvanize his players. However, this early promise would prove difficult to sustain.

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The subsequent 2022-23 season continued to be plagued by the team’s most persistent issue: player availability. Zion Williamson, the cornerstone of the franchise, missed extended periods due to various injuries, a recurring theme throughout his career. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum also endured significant time on the sidelines. Despite these setbacks, Green managed to keep the team competitive for stretches, finishing with a 42-40 record. Yet, they once again found themselves in the Play-In Tournament, ultimately failing to advance to the main playoff bracket. The inability to field a consistent, healthy starting lineup began to foster questions about the team’s long-term trajectory and the coaching staff’s capacity to overcome such pervasive health challenges.

The 2023-24 season offered a brief but tantalizing glimpse of the Pelicans’ potential. From early December 2023, following CJ McCollum’s return from injury, until March 2024, when Brandon Ingram was sidelined, the Pelicans recorded an impressive 31-16 record. During this period, the team showcased a dynamic offensive attack, with Williamson operating effectively as a primary ball-handler and playmaker, complemented by Ingram’s scoring versatility and McCollum’s perimeter shooting. Defensively, the contributions of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III provided crucial perimeter containment. This stretch positioned New Orleans as a legitimate Western Conference sleeper, generating significant buzz among league analysts. However, Ingram’s subsequent injury, followed by Williamson’s own setback during the Play-In Tournament, derailed their momentum. The Pelicans were unceremoniously swept out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, once again leaving fans to ponder what might have been.

The 2024-25 season proved to be a catastrophic turning point. Ravaged by an unprecedented wave of injuries across the roster, the Pelicans limped to a dismal 21-61 record. Key players like Williamson, Ingram, and McCollum spent more time in rehabilitation than on the court, making it virtually impossible for Green to establish any semblance of continuity or chemistry. This profoundly disappointing season ultimately led to the dismissal of General Manager David Griffin, the architect of the team’s current roster and the executive who initially hired Green. Joe Dumars, a veteran NBA executive, was brought in to lead the basketball operations, signaling a desire for a fresh direction. Dumars, rather than immediately installing his own coach, chose to give Green a grace period at the start of the 2025-26 season to demonstrate his ability to turn the ship around.

The current season’s opening has been nothing short of a disaster, leaving Dumars with little choice but to make a change. The Pelicans lost their first six games by a combined margin of 107 points, setting a tone of profound underperformance. The three 30-point defeats within the initial six contests represent an unwanted NBA record, underscoring a systemic breakdown on both ends of the court. While specific opponents and scores were not immediately detailed in the announcement, reports indicated comprehensive losses against competitive Western Conference teams. The team’s offensive efficiency has plummeted, struggling to generate consistent scoring opportunities outside of isolated individual efforts, while defensive lapses have become a concerning regularity.

Adding to the organizational concerns was Green’s perceived reluctance to integrate rookie Derik Queen into the rotation in a meaningful capacity. The Pelicans had made a significant investment to acquire Queen, relinquishing unprotected control of their 2026 first-round pick. Such a move signals a high level of confidence and expectation from the front office regarding Queen’s potential. However, aside from a single 34-minute outing against the San Antonio Spurs, necessitated by the absence of other big men besides Williamson, Queen has predominantly seen between 10 and 20 minutes per game. This apparent disconnect between the front office’s strategic asset management and the coaching staff’s player utilization likely contributed to the decision to move on from Green. Queen, a highly touted prospect, is expected to be a critical piece for the franchise’s future, and his development is a clear priority for Dumars.

Stepping into the interim head coaching role is James Borrego, a highly respected assistant with previous head coaching experience. Borrego served as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022, where he guided a young roster to incremental improvements, including a 43-39 record in his final season before his dismissal. His reputation as an offensive strategist and player developer is well-established. Over the summer, the New York Knicks reportedly attempted to poach Borrego to serve as the top assistant to their new head coach, Mike Brown, a testament to his standing within the league. The Pelicans, however, denied the Knicks permission to interview him, indicating their high regard for Borrego and perhaps a contingency plan for a potential coaching change. Borrego now inherits a team in disarray, with immediate challenges including a demanding upcoming schedule and a roster grappling with injuries and underperformance.

The challenges facing Borrego, and eventually the Pelicans’ next permanent head coach, are substantial. The franchise, since its relocation to New Orleans in 2003, has endured a perplexing history of underachievement. Despite drafting three generational talents in Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson—all of whom were on the majority of their respective rosters during their time in New Orleans—the team has managed to win only two playoff series in over two decades. This pattern of failing to build a sustained winner around superstar talent has become a defining characteristic of the organization.

The current roster presents a complex puzzle. Zion Williamson, while possessing immense talent, has struggled with consistency and health, and his diminished production relative to his peak has been a significant concern. The team’s limited perimeter shooting remains a glaring weakness, hindering offensive spacing and efficiency. The frontcourt, beyond Williamson, is largely inexperienced, further exacerbating rebounding and defensive issues. Furthermore, the significant financial commitment to Dejounte Murray, who is currently injured, adds another layer of complexity to future roster construction and salary cap flexibility.

Replacing Willie Green is undoubtedly just the initial step in what is widely anticipated to be a long and arduous reboot for the New Orleans Pelicans. The new coaching staff and front office will need to address fundamental issues related to player health management, roster balance, and potentially, a cultural shift within the organization. The immediate task for Borrego will be to instill a sense of urgency and discipline, while simultaneously evaluating the existing talent and fostering the development of key young players like Derik Queen. The road ahead for the Pelicans is fraught with uncertainty, demanding strategic decisions and a clear vision to finally break free from a cycle of unfulfilled potential.