Pelicans Fire Coach Green After 2-10 Start

The New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Willie Green on Saturday, less than two months into the 2025-2026 NBA season, following a 2-10 start that has left the team at the bottom of the Western Conference. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced the move and named assistant coach James Borrego as interim head coach.

The decision came one day after the Pelicans lost 118-104 to the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Cup play, capping a four-game skid. New Orleans opened the season with six straight defeats, including three by 30 or more points, before winning two consecutive games. The team's struggles have been compounded by injuries, notably to forward Zion Williamson, who has missed the last six games with a hamstring issue, and guard Jordan Poole, who is set for reevaluation next week. Without their key scorers, the Pelicans are averaging a league-low 108.4 points per game.

Dumars, who took over basketball operations this year after former executive David Griffin stepped down, had chosen to retain Green entering the final year of his contract over the summer. Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said the call was Dumars's to make. "He is assessing Willie and all...