Willie Green apparent favorite for Pelicans HC job

Current Suns assistant coach Willie Green appears to have become the strong favorite to nab the position of Pelicans head coach, writes Andrew Lopez of ESPN.

Green, 39, has served as an assistant coach with Phoenix during the past two seasons under head coach Monty Williams. He is currently facing off in the NBA Finals against the Bucks. On Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer‘s staff, assistant coach Charles Lee had been floated along with Green as one of the club’s preferred candidates last week.

Green was also a Warriors assistant coach under Steve Kerr from 2016-2019, winning two titles with the club in 2017 and 2018. Green has appeared in four NBA Finals as an assistant coach.

Lopez writes that Green’s skill in building relationships with players has made him an especially appealing contender for a head coaching position. Green was a 12-year NBA pro, and actually suited up alongside current starting Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe on the Clippers during the 2012-13 season.