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Alvin Gentry is back in New Orleans.
The Pelicans head coach will be back next season, according to new Executive Vice President of Basketball Pelicans David Griffin.
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New Orleans reached an agreement with Griffin last week to become the new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations of the franchise.
"I would like to thank Ms. Benson, Dennis Lauscha and the entire Pelicans organization for entrusting me with this responsibility." I look forward to working with Alvin Gentry and his staff to create a strong basketball culture. in New Orleans, "Griffin said in a franchise press release shortly before the start of his keynote press conference Wednesday afternoon (April 17).
He went on to say that Gentry's presence was a determining factor in his decision to continue the job.
"I know Alvin since I still have hair in his mouth and he can still dunk for his birthday," said Griffin laughing. "Steve Kerr and I hired him as head coach and we ran together towards the Western Conference Finals. He was a finalist in Cleveland.
Gayle Benson, owner of the Pelicans / Saints, announced at the NFL owners meeting that she would let new basketball team rookies decide on the future of Gentry and its staff d & # 39; coaches.
The race in New Orleans was delusional for Gentry, who apparently never had a group of healthy players with whom to work for an extended period.
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Upon arriving in New Orleans in 2015, Gentry was eager to work with Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Tyreke Evans. Instead, in the first game of the season, the team started Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins – and Robinson was eliminated after the second game.
In four seasons with the Pelicans, Gentry led the team only once in the playoffs and he set a record of 145-183, a winning percentage of .442. Of course, injuries were an important part of the three lost seasons.
After the last game of the season on April 9, Gentry was confident in what the team could accomplish next season.
"I told them right after, we'll be good next year and we'll do the damn playoffs," said Gentry. "I said it and I really think so. I believe that."
The next day, Gentry was asked if he was confident that he would lead the team next season.
"I'm going to be confident until they tell me I will not be coming back," Gentry said.
Gentry and Griffin have a story one with the other. The two men worked together in Phoenix when Gentry was the coach and Griffin was a member of the front office. In addition, Griffin interviewed Gentry to coach the Cavaliers in 2014 before leaving with David Blatt – and The Athletic Wednesday morning that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had a lot to do with the rental.
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New Orleans is the fourth stop for the full-time head coach and his fifth overall, including a stint as an acting coach in Miami in 1994-95.
In three seasons with Detroit (1997-200), Gentry was 73-72. He went to Los Angeles in 2000 and scored 89-133 before being released in the 2003 season.
Gentry spent the 2003-2004 season as an assistant in New Orleans before heading to Phoenix. Gentry spent four seasons as an assistant coach at the Suns, then took over for the 2008-09 season.
Phoenix scored 158-144 with Gentry at the helm. He was fired in the middle of the 2012-13 season. After another year as a Clippers assistant, Gentry was part of Steve Kerr's staff at Golden State during the 2014-15 season when the Warriors won the NBA title. New Orleans hired him after that.
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