Pelicans Coach Willie Green, James Borrego Have Unique Magic Connection
ORLANDO - The New Orleans Pelicans are making changes to their coaching staff, hiring James Borrego as the team's associate head coach.
Borrego, 45, has a strong two-decade career on the sidelines in the NBA, coaching for the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic.
Borrego coached three seasons with the Magic from 2012-15 on Jacque Vaughn's staff. After Vaughn was fired on Feb. 5, 2015, Borrego stepped up as the interim coach, the first primary coaching job when he was 37 years old.
Borrego went 10-20 in the final 30 games of the 2014-15 campaign for a Magic team that had a lot of young pieces, many of whom are still thriving in the NBA. But the team also had some veterans to mentor the young guys, including Willie Green, who just hired Borrego to be his lead assistant.
Borrego and Green go even further back on their NBA journeys. Borrego coached Green for the 2010-11 season with the New Orleans Hornets.
The NBA is often considered a brotherhood, and this is another reason why. Relationships that go back decades can often have an impact on how future jobs can come about.
Now, Borrego and Green hope they can make some magic in New Orleans.
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