“Willie has established himself as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA. In large part, this is due to a tireless work ethic and authenticity of character,” David Griffin, executive vice president of basketball operations, said Thursday. “He brings a vast amount of basketball knowledge and experience to our team as both a coach and former player, along with exceptional leadership qualities and an innate ability to connect with players, staff and fans alike.”
Green was a member of two NBA title-winning staffs with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. He moved to Phoenix two seasons ago to join the staff headed by Monte Williams, who also was the head coach in New Orleans when Green played there in the 2010-11 season on a team that guard Chris Paul led to the playoffs.
With the Suns, Green has been widely credited as the architect of the team’s defensive system. Phoenix had the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions), while high-scoring New Orleans missed the playoffs in part because of its 23rd-rated defense.
“It’s a blessing and an honor to get this opportunity in a special place like New Orleans. I look forward to getting to work and immersing myself and my family into the local community,” Green said.
Beyond his well-regarded acumen for on-court strategy, Green appears to command respect from NBA players. He had a 12-year playing career as a combo guard with Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta, the Los Angele Clippers and Orlando.
This is not the first time Griffin has hired a first-time coach with the expectation of quick success. Griffin was Cleveland’s vice president of basketball operations in 2016 when he gave Tyronn Lue his first head coaching job. The Cavaliers, with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving leading the club on the court, won the NBA championship that season.
The New Orleans Pelicans made a move that they hope will ensure success for Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and the rest of their young roster. The Pelicans officially hired Willie Green as head coach after having assistant-coaching stints with the Phoenix Suns (2019-2021) and the Golden State Warriors (2016-19).
“Willie has established himself as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA. In large part, this is due to a tireless work ethic and authenticity of character,” Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said in a statement. “He brings a vast amount of basketball knowledge and experience to our team as both a coach and former player, along with exceptional leadership qualities and an innate ability to connect with players, staff and fans alike. We could not be more excited to welcome Willie and his family to New Orleans.”
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Before it was official that the Pelicans replaced Green with Stan Van Gundy as head coach, the Suns honored Green at the end of practice before Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I’m happy and I’m unbelievably sad about it because he’s just a huge part of my life,” saidSuns coach Monty Williams, who had coached Green during part of his 12-year NBA career. “He’s been a big, big part of our program.”
That partly explains why the Pelicans hired Green in the first place. The Warriors and Suns praised Green for how related to players with both a personable touch while also providing X’s and O’s expertise. Although Van Gundy and Griffin had the same vision with using Williamson as a play-making forward, the two eventually had philosophical differences. Van Gundy’s old-school approaches with demanding practices and feedback did not yield enough positive results. The Pelicans finished in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 31-41 record.
As for Green, he drew on his early-coaching experiences from playing stints with the Philadelphia 76ers (2003-10), former New Orleans Hornets (2010-11), the Atlanta Hawks (2011-2012), the Los Angeles Clippers (2012-14) and the Orlando Magic (2014-15). He played on seven playoff teams.
“New Orleans is going to have a really good guy on their hands that is taking control in leading that group,” Suns guard Devin Booker said. “So obviously it’s always tough to lose somebody like that out of the organization, but you look at the bigger picture. You know how he’s going to be able to take care of his family. I’m sure it’s been something he’s been working for, wanting to get to for a very long time.”
Willie Green
 Green with the Clippers in 2013
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| New Orleans Pelicans | |
|---|---|
| Position | Head coach |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 28, 1981 Detroit, Michigan |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 227 lb (103 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Cooley (Detroit, Michigan) |
| College | Detroit Mercy (1999–2003) |
| NBA draft | 2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Playing career | 2003–2015 |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 33, 34 |
| Coaching career | 2016–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 2003–2010 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2010–2011 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2011–2012 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2012–2014 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2014–2015 | Orlando Magic |
| As coach: | |
| 2016–2019 | Golden State Warriors (assistant) |
| 2019–2021 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 2021–present | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
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Stats  |
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| Stats |
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Willie Kordell Green (born July 28, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player who is the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). During his professional career, Green played in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic. He was selected in the second round (41st pick overall) of the 2003 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics and later acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers from Seattle in a draft-night trade for the draft rights to Paccelis Morlende (50th pick overall) and cash considerations.
