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

New Report On Frustration in Pelicans Locker Room

Originally posted on New Orleans Pelicans on SI
By Terry Kimble | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 9:09 PM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans' season may be over, but the team is still making headlines for the upcoming changes happening in their organization.

This week, the Pelicans fired former executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin after New Orleans had the second-worst record in franchise history this season. The Pelicans quickly hired Louisiana native Joe Dumars to replace Griffin in the same role.

News surfaced that the decision to retain current head coach Willie Green would lie with the new lead executive once they were hired. Green just completed his fourth season with New Orleans, but the team failed to make the playoffs, as they had done in two of Green's first three years as head coach.

A new report from Shamit Dua suggests Green may have lost the locker room for repeatedly calling the Pelicans 'soft' during the season.

REPORT: Willie Green lost the Pelicans locker room after referring to them as “soft” following a “franchise record number of 40-point losses”.

(via @FearTheBrown) pic.twitter.com/VmSPQDuX7i
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 16, 2025

The Pelicans suffered five losses of 40 points or more this year, a franchise record. Green has called out his team's performance on many occasions, including once during a preseason game against the Rockets. New Orleans was near the bottom of the league in defensive rebounding and was dominated in the paint on many nights.

This started even in the preseason. I asked Coach Green after a preseason loss to the Rockets about rebounding and toughness and he called out the team as “soft” in October @PelicansOnSI https://t.co/MhbJqsMaI6 pic.twitter.com/6CmhPlPFkP
— Terry Kimble (@TK_Nola) April 17, 2025

Coach Green's calling card is defense, where his team ranked in the top six in the last two seasons. This year, the Pelicans ranked 26th in scoring defense, surrendering 119 points per game. While New Orleans did face a myriad of injuries to key guys like Zion Willaimson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and CJ McCollum, the team's regression was evident from the beginning of the year.

Now, the Pelicans are slotted for a top pick in the upcoming draft and will have to decide on their coach's future and some key players on the team.

This article first appeared on New Orleans Pelicans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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