Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green appears to be a strong favorite for New Orleans Pelicans head coach, sources say

Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green has become the favorite and choice of the New Orleans Pelicans to be the franchise’s next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday night.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Green has been an assistant for the Suns for the past two seasons and spent the previous three seasons on the Golden State Warriors coaching staff. Green also has experience in New Orleans, having played one season with the team in 2010-11, while they were still the Hornets.

As a player, Green has made the playoffs in seven of his 12 seasons, including the only year to New Orleans – one of seven playoff trips the team has made in history. franchise.

That season, Green played for a team coached by Monty Williams and led by point guard Chris Paul. Now Green is the favorite to be taken out of a Suns team led by Williams and Paul.

Green would replace Stan Van Gundy, who left the Pelicans after just one season.

The Pelicans went 31-41 in 2020-21, a disappointing result after starting the season with playoff aspirations. In the end, New Orleans didn’t even make the Western Conference play-in tournament.

The immediate future looks bright in New Orleans with two young All-Stars in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans have the No.10 pick in the upcoming draft, but ESPN’s Jonathan Givony noted in his most recent simulation project that “The No.10 pick is considered one of the most available in the lottery, simply by because of the team’s accelerated schedule. “

New Orleans also has a plethora of future career picks that sent Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers and Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks.

One of the reasons Green has stood out as a coaching candidate is his ability to connect with players both as a presence in the locker room since his playing days and on the bench since joining. the ranks of coaches.

At 39, Green would become the third youngest coach in the NBA behind Mark Daigneault (35) of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Taylor Jenkins (36) of the Memphis Grizzlies.