Some New Orleans Pelicans Players Felt Willie Green Didn’t Hold Zion Williamson Accountable
Some New Orleans Pelicans players felt Willie Green didn’t hold Zion Williamson accountable, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Pelicans fired Green as head coach.
“Pelicans guard Jordan Poole was upset with his role after Green removed him from the starting lineup against the Denver Nuggets on October 29th, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. “Green’s messaging had also become stale with Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III after playing for Green his entire Pelicans tenure as coach, league sources added. In addition, some players and members of the organization felt Green didn’t hold Zion Williamson accountable enough during his coaching tenure, sources said.”
Green went 150-190 in the regular season and 2-8 in the playoffs with the Pelicans.
Williamson has never appeared in a playoff game.
A two-time All-Star, Williamson has played in only five games this season. He’s currently out with a hamstring injury. The Duke product is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 48.7% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line.
The Pelicans are 2-11. They are in last place in the Western Conference standings.
James Borrego will coach New Orleans for the rest of the season.
“It’s worth noting that Borrego also took over Williamson’s player development program this season,” Scotto wrote. “By all accounts, Williamson has responded well to Borrego and respects him, sources said.”
Williamson has played in just 219 games with the Pelicans since being drafted with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The lefty has career averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
The 25-year-old Williamson is making $39.4 million this season. The Pelicans signed Williamson to a five-year, $197 million extension in 2022.
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