The New Orleans Pelicans released a statement on Saturday confirming the dismissal of Willie Green as head coach.

Willie Green, 44, previously served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, during which time he helped Steve Kerr win two NBA championships (2017, 2018). He officially became the Pelicans' head coach in July 2021, leading the team to a record of 150 wins and 190 losses to date.

The Pelicans had a poor start to the season, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 2-10 record after 12 rounds. However, Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars stated that the coaching change was not due to the team's record. He said, "After careful evaluation, we made the difficult decision to change coaches. I have the utmost respect for Willie Green and sincerely thank him for his contributions to the Pelicans and the New Orleans community. I wish him and his family all the best in the future."

Dumars added, "The team's wins and losses are by no means the ultimate deciding factor. We don't have a hard requirement to win or make the play-in tournament or the playoffs. We need to clarify the future direction of the New Orleans Pelicans, but I don't see the team needing to make that change."

“I want the team to give their all every night. If we keep losing in the same way, it doesn’t mean the team is improving.”

He concluded by emphasizing, "To achieve anything in the league, you must first establish a solid foundation for your team. This adjustment is based more on our assessment of the team than on its positioning, offensive or defensive systems, or win-loss records."

Pelicans owner Gayle Benson stated, "As I've said before, Joe Dumars is responsible for basketball operations decisions. As one of the top basketball strategists in the industry, I believe he will make the right choices for our team."

“I have the utmost respect for Willie Green and I am deeply grateful for everything he has done for the team over the past few years. It’s a brutal industry, and making those decisions is no easy task.”

"My expectation for the team is to be a winning team capable of competing for the championship, and I will remain steadfast in building a championship-contending team for the players, partners, and especially our fans."

During the head coaching vacancy, the Pelicans will be temporarily managed by Green's assistant coach, James Borrego. Borrego stated, "As head coach, I've developed my own coaching rhythm. I'm very clear about my ability to orchestrate the offense, which is my strength."

“I will give my all in tomorrow night’s game. I have already established a good understanding with the players, but we still need to make adjustments based on the situation on the field. I always remain optimistic, which is also my attitude towards life. We will definitely achieve our goal, but we need everyone to work together.”

However, Borrego and the Pelicans are about to face a tough stretch of games. Their next three opponents are Stephen Curry's Warriors, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Denver Nuggets, home of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.