The New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Willie Green after four-plus seasons on Saturday, the team announced.
Assistant coach James Borrego, who served as the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach from 2018 to 2022, will take over as the team’s interim head coach.
“After careful evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to make a change at head coach,” Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars said. “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.”
The move comes hours after the Pelicans suffered another loss, this time a 118-104 home defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, bringing their record to 2-10, the worst in the Western Conference.
Green led the Pelicans to the postseason twice, in 2022 and 2024, both first-round playoff defeats. He had a 150-190 record.
New Orleans had been hit with the injury bug; star forward Zion Williamson has missed the last six games with a left hamstring strain, and guard Dejounte Murray is out as he tries to work himself back from a torn Achilles suffered in January.
“As I have stated, Joe Dumars is in charge of basketball operations decisions, and as one of the best basketball minds in the business, I trust him to make the right decisions for our franchise,” said Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson.
