The Pelicans are 0-4 to start the season after Wednesday’s brutal 122-88 loss to the Nuggets. Making matters worse, they’ll be without star guard Dejounte Murray until at least January.
Now the team might be ready to make a big change.
NBA insider Brett Siegel reports the Pelicans are having “serious” discussions about firing head coach Willie Green, who’s been at the helm for five seasons. According to Siegel, players have “appeared disinterested and frustrated with how Green’s lineups are being handled.”
The timing isn’t surprising given how badly the team has performed.
The Pelicans are having serious discussions about firing Willie Green, per @BrettSiegelNBA
“Several players have appeared disinterested and frustrated with how Green’s lineups are being handled, sources said.”
– NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Pelicans made several changes to their front office and roster before this season started. Interestingly, they kept Green despite winning just 21 games last year.
That decision by Joe Dumars, Executive President of Basketball Operations, might now be backfiring.
Just four games into the new season, players are already losing faith in their coach. The frustration seems to center around Green’s lineup decisions, which haven’t produced results.
Green joined the Pelicans in 2021 after building his coaching resume as an assistant. He worked under Steve Kerr with the Warriors in 2018-19 as an assistant/player development coach before spending two seasons with Phoenix under Monty Williams.
There’s no reason for any optimism about anything surrounding the Pelicans until Willie Green is fired
– GETLIKECOOP (@cooptoth3hoop)
His overall record with New Orleans stands at a disappointing 148-184.
To be fair, Green did have some success. The team posted winning records in two of his first four seasons, including 49 wins in 2023-24 – their best mark since 2008-09.
But things fell apart last season when the Pelicans finished 14th in the Western Conference with that dismal 21-61 record.
The start to this season has been even worse. Not only are they winless, but their last two losses have been absolute blowouts – down 32 to Boston on Monday and 34 to Denver on Wednesday.
Friday’s game against the Clippers could be make-or-break for Green. If the team shows no fight again, it might be his last on the Pelicans’ bench.
According to Siegel, assistant James Borrego is the favorite to take over as interim head coach if Green gets fired.
