Former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego is finally a head coach again, as he has been tasked to helm the New Orleans Pelicans, who recently fired Willie Green. Borrego is serving on an interim basis. If he wants to become the full-time coach, he needs to demonstrate to the Pelicans that he can lead them to victory when it matters most, something he failed to do in Charlotte.
The former Gregg Popovich disciple's four-season tenure with the Hornets was a mixed bag. He steered the franchise to its only above-.500 regular-season finish since 2016 and two consecutive campaigns of 10-win improvements, but his 148-184 overall coaching record in Charlotte is nothing to write home about. He piloted a top-10 offense in the 2021-22 season, but its defense landed in the bottom seven.
Perhaps the biggest knock on Borrego's Hornets stint was their dismal performances in the play-in tournament in 2021 and 2022. In both cases, they suffered blowout losses in the first leg as the No. 10 seed, which may have contributed to his dismissal in the 2022 offseason.
James Borrego's culture-building in Charlotte was also criticized
Of course, the play-in results were hardly the only reason the organization let go of Borrego. It was a collection of miscues, including his perceived inability to establish a long-term winning culture, with some folks even claiming that he had already lost the locker room by the time he had to pack his bag and leave town.
Maybe he has already learned his lesson and is ready to transform a struggling squad into a contender. The difference this time is that he has already spent a few years working with the Pelicans, having served as their associate head coach since 2023. When he joined the Hornets, he was fresh off a second tour of duty with the San Antonio Spurs.
Borrego will have his hands full in New Orleans, though, as the team is one of the worst so far in the league but has no incentive to tank after its front office inexplicably decided to trade its 2026 first-round pick during the 2025 draft. The good news is that there is no shortage of talent on the roster, with Zion Williamson leading the pack, although the star's health remains a major concern. Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen should benefit from his reputation as a developmental coach.
However, the Pelicans and their fans should also brace for the possibility of Borrego failing to deliver the wins, especially since some players don't seem to mesh well with the others, and there appears to be a problem with the team culture.