Pelicans fire Willie Green after 2-10 start to season

The New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Willie Green after going 2-10 to start the NBA season, the team announced Saturday.

Assistant James Borrego will take over as interim head coach.

Borrego and ex-UConn head coach Kevin Ollie are among the candidates in consideration to replace Green on a full-time basis, SNY's Ian Begley reports.

"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 in a 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 joined the Pelicans in July 2021 following stints as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

The Michigan native led New Orleans to the playoffs in two of his first three campaigns, but posted a 23-71 record over the past two seasons.

The Pelicans currently sit last in the Western Conference.

They dealt an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks on draft night as part of the Derik Queen trade.