The Pelicans are having serious internal discussions about firing Willie Green

The New Orleans Pelicanswho started the 2025-26 season 0-4, are in serious internal discussions about moving on from head coaching Willie Greenmultiple league sources told ClutchPoints.

Although ownership has stood by Green’s side over the yearsincluding when David Griffin looked to move on from Green in the offseason, Joe Dumars, the team’s new executive vice president of basketball operations, and new members of the Pelicans’ front office are questioning the head coach’s future.

Before he was fired and replaced by DumarsGriffin was expected to seriously consider parting ways with Green. In the end, the organization and ownership decided to keep Green and fire Griffin. Once again, there is a growing sense that the front office wants a change on the sidelines in New Orleans. The general question is whether ownership approves such a move.

Every time a new front office takes over, it always feels like it’s only a matter of time before changes are made to the sidelines. While Green, Dumars and ownership have a strong relationship, the coach’s tenure appears to be coming to an end.

Amid the Pelicans’ 0-4 start to the season, several players seemed disinterested and frustrated with how Green’s lineups were being handled, sources said. These dissatisfactions were visible on the team’s bench, but also heard behind the scenes in the tunnel and dressing room.

Through the team’s first few games, the star forward Zion Williamson was seen engaging more than usual with associate head coach James Borrega during his warm-ups and pregame routine.

Borrego, who has interviewed for several head coaching jobs over the years across the NBA, is likely to be named the Pelicans’ interim coach if a decision is made to move on from Green in the coming weeks, sources said.

There’s a growing feeling around the NBA that Green has lost the Pelicans locker room, and that was evident Wednesday night when they hosted the Denver Nuggets. One of Green’s most questionable decisions to start the season was starting 37-year-old center DeAndre Jordanwho signed with the team on Friday, via All-Rookie center Yves Misi in Denver.

After trailing 53-47 at halftime, the Pelicans were outscored 39-11 in the third quarter, allowing the Nuggets to go on a 29-2 run over the first eight minutes of the second half. During this stretch, players on the New Orleans bench were seen shaking their heads and basically giving up in the middle of the game. Green called three timeouts during this period to try to get his team back on track.

The Pelicans lost 122-88 on Thursday, their fourth straight loss to start the season and their second straight loss by 22-plus points. New Orleans will play two more games on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder before returning home to face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, November 6.

Speculation surrounding the Pelicans indicates that a decision on Green’s future will be made when the team returns from its current three-game road trip, sources told ClutchPoints. No team in NBA history has ever made the playoffs after starting the season 0-6.

Similar remarks were shared by Pelicans reporter Shamit Dua, who also reported on it rumble of Green’s potential firing upon returning to New Orleans from the team’s current road trip.

Since being named the team’s head coach in 2021, Green has gone 148-184 with the Pelicans, leading the organization to the playoffs in 2022 and 2024. If the Pelicans decide to move on from Green, it is unknown if he will remain with the franchise in the front office or in some capacity.

ClutchPoints Pelicans reporter and insider Chris Dodson also contributed to this report.