Pelicans hire – The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Jamahl Mosley as their next head coach, finishing interim James Borrego’s hopes of staying on a permanent basis. Mosley arrives after five seasons with Orlando, where he compiled a 189-221 record and was dismissed this month
When the Pelicans moved to hire Jamahl Mosley, the path for interim coach James Borrego to land the permanent job closed quickly. New Orleans is set to bring Mosley in as its next head coach, ending Borrego’s candidacy to remain on the bench full time.
The decision follows an interim stretch that left the Pelicans needing change.. Borrego took over after Willie Green was fired when the team was 2-10. guiding New Orleans for 70 games to a 24-46 record.. That run still left the Pelicans missing the postseason for a second straight season. after they had already failed to make the playoffs the previous year.
Mosley comes to New Orleans after spending five seasons with Orlando. The Magic dismissed him this month following a seven-game first-round playoff loss to the Detroit Pistons, a series in which Orlando carried both a 3-1 lead and a 24-point advantage in Game 7.
During his time with the Magic, Mosley went 189-221. Orlando qualified for the NBA playoffs in each of the past three seasons under his watch and won the Southeast Division twice. Yet each time, the Magic were eliminated in the first round.
Borrego had been leaning toward stability even as the results fell short.. When the 2025-26 regular season ended. he said he wanted to keep the Pelicans’ job permanently and believed that having a full offseason in charge could help him put a more consistent winner on the court.. Pelicans basketball operations chief Joe Dumars acknowledged Borrego was a candidate while also saying he would look “outside the building” for the next coach.
Dumars’ choice also marks a distinct coaching churn under his leadership. Mosley becomes the Pelicans’ third coach since Dumars took over as executive vice president of basketball operations before last season.
New Orleans’ coaching decision arrives alongside roster changes intended to support a core led by Zion Williamson.. The Pelicans took guard Jeremiah Fears and forward Derick Queen with two of their first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. aiming to add depth around Williamson. Trey Murphy. and Dejounte Murray.. Dumars’ hire brings an experienced coach into that mix.
Mosley was selected over several other candidates considered by Dumars. including former player Rajon Rondo. Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel. and former Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham. who is now a top assistant with Milwaukee.. San Antonio Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney was also reportedly under consideration.
The coaching path that brought Mosley to Orlando stretches back through NBA development roles.. Before taking his only previous head coaching job with Orlando. he spent seven seasons as one of then-Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle’s top assistants. a period that overlapped with Luka Doncic’s early NBA career in Dallas before Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.. Before Dallas, Mosley was with the Cleveland Cavaliers for four seasons.
Even without NBA playing time. Mosley’s basketball background includes professional stints in Australia. Europe. and Asia. before beginning his NBA career in player development and scouting with Denver in 2005.. His Colorado college standout days sit at the beginning of a coaching résumé that now lands in New Orleans.
Borrego’s interim tenure. Mosley’s Orlando record. and Dumars’ stated willingness to search beyond the organization line up with the sequence of events in New Orleans: Borrego was given the job after a 2-10 start. compiled a 24-46 mark while missing the postseason for a second straight year. and then expressed confidence in staying with a full offseason—while Dumars simultaneously kept Borrego as a candidate and signaled he would look “outside the building. ” leading to the appointment of Mosley after Orlando’s 7-game first-round exit that included a 3-1 series lead and a 24-point Game 7 advantage.
New Orleans Pelicans Jamahl Mosley James Borrego Joe Dumars Zion Williamson Trey Murphy Dejounte Murray 2025 NBA Draft Jeremiah Fears Derick Queen
So they just swapped coaches again. Pelicans can’t catch a break.
Borrego was 24-46 right? That’s rough but it feels like they fired Willie Green and now it’s like round 2. I don’t even know why you can’t just let a guy finish a whole cycle.
Is Mosley the one who blew that 3-1 lead to the Pistons? If so that’s kinda hilarious they hired the same vibes again. Also 24-point in Game 7?? that’s almost impossible lol.
I read “ending Borrego’s bid” and automatically thought Borrego did something shady or got into it with somebody, like that’s what the headline means. But then it’s just they picked Mosley instead… okay. Joe Dumars always talks like it’s all analytics and “stability,” but then they turn around and change the coach anyway. Pelicans gonna miss playoffs again like last year or they finally fixed it this time?