Report: Pelicans set to name Willie Green as head coach / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports Credit Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans plan to name Willie Green as their next head coach, according to a report from ESPN on Wednesday night.

However, the Pelicans may need to wait before introducing their pick to replace Stan Van Gundy, who stepped down last month. Green is an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, who are playing the Milwaukee Bucks in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

Green, who turns 40 on July 28, will become the third-youngest head coach in the league behind Mark Daigneault (35, Oklahoma City Thunder) and Taylor Jenkins (36, Memphis Grizzlies). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, where he earned two championship rings in three seasons before joining Monty Williams' coaching staff in Phoenix.

Before becoming a coach, Green spent 12 seasons in the NBA as a shooting guard out of Detroit Mercy. He averaged 8.3 points in 731 career games (297 starts) with Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta, the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando.

In his lone season as a player in New Orleans, Green averaged 8.7 points in 77 games (13 starts) in 2010-11. Williams served as his head coach.

The Pelicans went 31-41 this season and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.

--Field Level Media

Thank you for reading us! We have even more content for you.