{"id":134867,"date":"2025-04-16T22:23:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T02:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=134867"},"modified":"2025-04-16T22:23:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T02:23:07","slug":"pelicans-leadership-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/16\/pelicans-leadership-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelicans Have A Leadership Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the New Orleans Pelicans\u2019 season finale, head coach Willie Green answered reporters questions for nearly 20 minutes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy message to the team and to our staff was just gratitude, just starting with that,\u201d he\u2019d begin.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrateful that everything that they poured into this\u2026 the character with our whole entire group. Even through adversity and challenges this season, I\u2019m extremely blessed that I can come into a building and still have joy in that building getting after it everyday with that group.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the season we wanted and we\u2019re all disappointed. We\u2019ll take some time to reflect and see how we can be better, how we can improve. But I\u2019m really grateful for the opportunity and grateful to get after it with this group.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Green\u2019s reflections, he also gave a candid assessment of his own performance:<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do great. I have to take full ownership in where we are as a team\u2026 We failed. I failed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pelicans Have A Leadership Problem<\/h2>\n

Despite sounding much like the highly respected Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in that postgame presser, Green \u201chas virtually zero player support<\/a> left in the locker (room),\u201d per In The N.O.\u2019s Shamit Dua.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, he may have alluded to the dissension that day. Asked about injuries that ravaged their roster, Green says: \u201cThat\u2019s the challenging part. That\u2019s the adversity we faced all year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, when questioned about the lessons he could take away from the experience, the 12-year NBA veteran responded:<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you get hit with things that you can\u2019t control. It\u2019s easy to lash out at people and start behaving in a way that nobody wants to be around you. But I thought our entire group tried to stay as steady as we could and try to stay on course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting two and two together, he may have been talking about himself. That\u2019s just speculation of course. However, if correct, his volatility could\u2019ve wore on the nerves of his players. It would be particularly draining in such a trying season, especially with so many young players on the roster.<\/p>\n

Missing The Forest For The Trees<\/h3>\n

Green \u201cis beloved by ownership,\u201d according to Dua. \u201cSo much so that (former Pelicans executive vice president) David Griffin seeking permission to dismiss Green earlier this year was a huge factor in the loss of Griffin\u2019s own job.\u201d Even still, there are now many that feel the Pelicans have a leadership problem.<\/p>\n

Right now, they would be right to believe that. However, the crux of the issue isn\u2019t Green, a coach who was just being praised a couple of seasons ago. In fact, upon hiring Green, Griffin released this statement<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cWillie 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. 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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When their 2021-22 campaign began to turn around, Devonte\u2019 Graham<\/a> told reporters:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is confidence throughout the team. That has a lot to do with Coach Green, just not getting down on guys. A lot of coaches with that start would\u2019ve started panicking. He just kept building us up, to keep believing.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That season, they reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018. It was just their third playoff appearance since 2011. The individual highlight of his 2022-23 campaign may have been winning his first Coach of the Month after going 10-5 in December. Notably, Pelicans veteran CJ McCollum<\/a> was front and center when telling his coach about his honor.<\/p>\n

\n

Mr. @CJMcCollum<\/a> lets Willie Green know he has been named the @NBA<\/a>‘s Western Conference Coach of the Month! \ud83d\udc4f#Pelicans<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/R2xVOH1avX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n