NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans hired former Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley as their next coach on Monday, ending interim coach James Borrego’s candidacy to retain his job on a permanent basis.Mosley heads to New Orleans after spending the past five seasons with Orlando, which fired him this month after the Magic’s seven-game, first-round playoff loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Magic had a 3-1 lead in that series, as well as 24-point lead in Game 7.“Jamahl has earned tremendous respect across the NBA for his leadership, professionalism, and the strong relationships he develops with players and staff,” Pelicans basketball operations chief Joe Dumars said. “His teams reflect his coaching style through their defensive intensity, effort, preparation, and commitment to playing the right way.”Mosley went 189-221 with Orlando. His teams qualified for the NBA playoffs in each of the past three seasons and won the Southeast Division twice, but were eliminated in the first round each time.
Borrego was the Pelicans’ interim coach for 70 games, taking over a 2-10 team after the firing of Willie Green.
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In what was his second interim job and third chance overall to lead a staff, Borrego went 24-46 with the Pelicans, who missed the postseason for a second straight season.Borrego also had coached the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022. His teams earned Eastern Conference play-in spots in 2021 and 2022, but did not advance to the NBA playoffs in either of those seasons.
