After the Pelicans ended their season with a defeat to Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon, head coach Willie Green addressed the uncertainty surrounding his future, as reported by Brett Martel of The Associated Press.
The loss concluded a disappointing campaign for Green’s team, which had entered the season with high hopes of making the playoffs.
However, injuries derailed those aspirations, leaving the Pelicans with a dismal 21-61 record, the second-worst in the Western Conference and the fourth-worst in the entire league.
“I haven’t had any discussions, any talks yet,” Green said. “I didn’t do great great. I have to take full ownership of where we are as a team. We failed. I failed.”
Over his four-year tenure with New Orleans, Green has posted a record of 148-180, including two playoff appearances. The Pelicans made it through the play-in tournament in 2022 and 2023, but this season’s collapse raises questions about his future.
Green was hired in 2021 for his first head coaching job after spending three seasons as an assistant with Golden State and Phoenix. He emphasized that he hoped the team’s leadership would consider his full body of work when evaluating his performance.
“I think that’s important. You try to look at the body of work,” Green said. “But I didn’t give myself this job. I had to be chosen for this position, and I’m grateful.”
Injuries were a significant factor in the Pelicans’ struggles this season, with several key players missing substantial time.
Star forward Zion Williamson, who played in 70 games in 2023-24, was limited to just 30 appearances due to multiple injuries, including a severe hamstring strain.
Additionally, guard Dejounte Murray, who was acquired in a trade last summer, fractured his hand on opening night and later tore his Achilles in January, leaving him with only 31 games played.
Several other injuries further weakened the team: Herbert Jones missed 32 games due to a shoulder injury, Brandon Ingram was sidelined by an ankle issue and played in only 18 games before being traded to Toronto in February, and Trey Murphy was out for 29 games due to various injuries.
Despite the injury-riddled season, which provides some context for the Pelicans’ poor performance, it may not be enough to save Green’s job or that of head of basketball operations David Griffin.
Speculation is swirling that Griffin’s future with the team could also be in jeopardy. Griffin did not speak to the media after Sunday’s game, according to Martel.
Changes, whether at the front office, coaching, or player level, seem likely for New Orleans in the coming offseason as the organization looks to revamp its approach.
“We truly don’t know who’s going back. I’m just trying to be honest with you,” Murphy said. “Nobody is safe.”
With the Pelicans’ disappointing finish and the uncertainty around the future of key figures in the franchise, the offseason promises to be one of significant reflection and potential restructuring.
Willie Green: No Discussions Yet On Future With Pelicans https://t.co/52NYc3CZcE pic.twitter.com/bZzbgyYIXX
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 14, 2025
