US EditionPelicans Interim Coach James Borrego Is a Candidate for the Permanent Job, Joe Dumars Says
Borrego said he wants the job full time as the Pelicans weigh other candidates and look to build a sustainable winner after a 26-56 season.
- On Tuesday, New Orleans basketball operations chief Joe Dumars confirmed interim head coach James Borrego is a candidate for the permanent coaching position, though the Pelicans have not yet finalized their search list.
- Borrego took over following the firing of Willie Green after a 2-10 start and guided the Pelicans to a 24-46 record during the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
- Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson praised Borrego for his leadership, noting the team competed in 34 "clutch games"—defined as contests within five points in the final five minutes.
- While James Borrego expressed that leading the franchise is an "honor," Joe Dumars indicated he will interview external candidates including Kevin Ollie, Darvin Ham, and Jamahl Mosley.
- Dumars emphasized his timeline is simply to "get it right," rejecting notions that retaining current staff signals complacency following a 26-56 season.
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Associated Press News
Pelicans interim coach James Borrego is a candidate for the permanent job, Joe Dumars says
New Orleans Pelicans basketball operations chief Joe Dumars says he's not yet completed a short list of coaching candidates and might keep interim coach James Borrego on a permanent basis heading into next season.
Pelicans Notes: Head Coach, Offseason, Zion, Queen, Draft
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pelicans executive VP of basketball operations Joe Dumars confirmed that the team will embark on a head coaching search and that in-season replacement James Borrego will be a candidate for the permanent job, according to Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required). “What makes him a viable candidate is his ability to communicate with the team every day and to do it in a positive way every day,” Dumars said of…
Pelicans fire coach Willie Green 12 games into his fifth season, name James Borrego interim coach
The New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Willie Green on Saturday after a 2-10 start during his fifth season with the team, according to the New Orleans Pelicans.
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