The New Orleans Pelicans began the season with high hopes, fueled by Zion Williamson’s visual transformation and the addition of Maryland standout Derick Queen with the 13th pick. But that optimism evaporated fast. The team opened 2-10, suffering three losses by 30 or more points. With the season already slipping, the front office made a decisive move and fired head coach Willie Green on Saturday.

“After careful evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to make a change at head coach,” Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President of Basketball, said in his statement. “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.”

Green’s five-year stint as the head coach concluded with two playoff trips and the team’s first 49 or more wins since the 2008-09 season. Now, with Willie Green out of the picture, the question is who will assume the head coaching position in New Orleans. Well, it seems like Joe Dumars and Co. already have a plan in action, as they’ve selected a suitable candidate for Green’s replacement.

Who is the New Pelicans HC after Willie Green’s firing? James Borrego gets the nod

Following their longtime head coach Willie Green’s departure, the New Orleans Pelicans wasted no time in naming his successor. The franchise has announced that its associate head coach, James Borrego, will be taking over as the team’s interim head coach. And His asking price? Well, he will be more than happy to step up as the interim HC at the moment, but if things go well, the Pelicans can give him a good deal. (Coaches’ salaries aren’t made public in general, but they can be in the range of two million to three million.)

Although the masses might not know much about the 48-year-old New Mexico native, he’s actually the best replacement New Orleans could’ve asked for.

Borrego takes over as the interim head coach, bringing around two decades of NBA coaching experience. His journey in the coaching space began in 2001, as he worked as an assistant for the University of San Diego. But he got his first taste of coaching in the league in 2003, when he started working under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio.

He started as an assistant video coordinator but quickly moved up the ranks and was even part of the Spurs’ two championship-winning teams in 2005 and 2007, respectively. However, after seven seasons in Texas, he headed to New Orleans along with Monty Williams, who was appointed as the Hornets’ head coach.

Then the Orlando Magic came calling, where he spent three seasons as an assistant and even had his first head coaching stint in 2015. However, after that, he returned to the San Antonio Spurs, back where it all started for him, from 2015 to 2018. It was after his second stint with the Spurs that the Charlotte Hornets finally showed faith in him by appointing him as the team’s head coach.

From 2018 onwards, James Borrego served as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets until being fired in 2022. Now, once again, he’s back in a head coaching position after a long hiatus. So, what can we expect from the 48-year-old? Will he be able to become the long-term solution for the New Orleans Pelicans?

Can James Borrego be a long-term fix for the Pelicans? Other potential replacements

Well, James Borrego seems to be the perfect pick as the interim head coach, given that he’s been with the team for the past three seasons. And if sources are to be believed, he will continue in this capacity at least for this season. But will that be the case past the 2025-26 campaign?

Well, that might depend on how the Pelicans turn around for the remaining 70 games. But he can surely stay for long, as the former Hornets head coach is well known for his offensive-minded approach in the coaching space. Not just that, throughout his time in Charlotte, Borrego compiled a 138-163 record, including two play-in trips, a feat that the Hornets haven’t been able to replicate since his departure.

Also, reportedly, Borrego was among the finalists for the New York Knicks head coaching job alongside Mike Brown, who eventually won that race. So, he seems to be the man for the job, even past this season. Moreover, New Orleans needs to unlock its offensive potential with two incredibly talented youngsters in Derrick Queen and Zion Williamson.

On the other hand, Jeremiah Fears could also use some help from James Borrego. Willie Green could not do any of the things mentioned during his time; now it’s Borrego’s turn.

Nonetheless, the newly appointed interim head coach seems to be the one for the Pelicans, but nothing can be said with certainty, as reports indicate former UConn HC Kevin Ollie is also in contention for the full-time role past this season. Now, who will be the franchise’s full-time head coach? That’s something everyone will be watching in the coming months.