Willie Green's Job Reportedly Not Safe With Pelicans After 0-4 Start

The New Orleans Pelicans could reportedly be nearing a coaching change.

Apr 16, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts with New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green on a time out in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers during a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The New Orleans Pelicans made some major moves over the 2025 offseason, headlined by a trade to acquire Jordan Poole, but another move to trade away their unprotected 2026 first-round pick certainly caught some flak. Now, the Pelicans have started their season 0-4, and things could not be looking worse.

New Orleans is coming off back-to-back losses to the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, losing by a combined 66 points through those two games. The question is, who is to blame for New Orleans' shortcomings?

Willie Green is on the hot seat

Regardless of who the fans believe should be to blame, the front office might have already found its scapegoat. NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports that the Pelicans could be considering a coaching change, with Willie Green's future hanging in the balance.

SOURCES: The Pelicans are holding serious internal discussions about head coach Willie Green's future, league sources told @ClutchPoints.

Latest details and information from New Orleans, with @DoingItDodson: https://t.co/aJroVVQvsw

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) October 30, 2025

"The New Orleans Pelicans, who have started the 2025-26 season with a 0-4 record, are holding serious internal discussions about moving on from head coach Willie Green, multiple league sources told ClutchPoints," Siegel reported on Thursday morning.

The Pelicans already made one major change in the offseason by firing general manager David Griffin and hiring Joe Dumars to replace him, and the new management reportedly wants Green gone.

"Joe Dumars, the team's new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and new members of the Pelicans' front office have been questioning the head coach's future," Siegel wrote. "...Once again, there is a growing sense of the front office wanting a change on the sidelines in New Orleans... While Green, Dumars, and ownership hold a strong relationship, it appears the coach's tenure is nearing its end."

Oct 27, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) talks with head coach Willie Green during the second half against the Boston Celtics at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

How do the players feel?

Of course, it is always hard to gauge how players feel about head coaches, especially this early in the season after things seemed to be clicking during training camp, but Siegel reports that several players are frustrated with Green.

"Amid the Pelicans' 0-4 start to the season, several players have appeared disinterested and frustrated with how Green's lineups are being handled, sources said," Siegel wrote. "...Through the team's first handful of games, star forward Zion Williamson has been seen engaging more than usual with associate head coach James Borrego during his pregame warmups and routine."

Nov 14, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans acting head coach James Borrego talks with forward Zion Williamson (1) against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Siegel also notes that Green has "lost the Pelicans' locker room," which is always an indicator of changes to come.

Should the Pelicans move on from Green?

Green has been the Pelicans' head coach since the 2021-22 season and has made two playoff appearances with zero series wins. Sure, it is not entirely his fault, given some questionable roster decisions by the front office, but it would not be a shock if New Orleans makes the change from Green to Borrego.

Borrego, who has several seasons as a head coach under his belt, is considered one of the top assistant coaches in the NBA. While Green might not be fired immediately, if it does happen, Borrego will likely finish the season out with an interim tag.

The Pelicans are stuck in no man's land, and with their 2026 first-round pick being sent to the Atlanta Hawks, their future is looking as gloomy as ever. A change at the coaching position could do this team some good, although Green is likely not the source of their problems.