METAIRIE, La. (AP) 鈥� The have not yet completed a short list of coaching candidates and might keep interim coach James Borrego on a permanent basis heading into next season, New Orleans basketball operations chief said Tuesday.
鈥淵es, James Borrego is a candidate. No we don’t have a list yet; we’re not going to put it out publicly,鈥� Dumars said. 鈥淏ut definitely, James is a candidate for this job permanently going forward.
鈥淚 will go outside the building and talk to some other people as well,” Dumars noted, but without projecting a date for when a decision on the next coach might be made. “In terms of a timeline, my timeline is to get it right.鈥�
Dumars met with reporters on Tuesday to review a 2025-26 season that ended on Sunday night at 26-56. Borrego, who took over when following a 2-10 start, went 24-46.
What makes Borrego a viable candidate, Dumars said, is “his ability to communicate with his team every day and to do it in a positive way.
鈥淲hat James did, I thought really well this year, was he never let the building get completely collapsed,鈥� Dumars said. 鈥淗e always tried to keep the team up and positive. And that鈥檚 exactly what you want to see, especially in a situation where he took over and it could have slid.鈥�
Dumars also rejected the notion that keeping Borrego would send a signal of complacency to fans who are starving for a winner.
Since the NBA returned to New Orleans in 2002, the Pelicans have won a grand total of two first-round playoff series in 2008 and 2018. They have missed the playoffs 15 times, including in two straight seasons and three of three past four.
Dumars, however, is not part of that history. He was after the firing of David Griffin.
鈥淭he idea that you can鈥檛 keep the same coach (after a losing season), I don鈥檛 really buy into that,鈥� Dumars said. “I think it鈥檚 the person and I think it鈥檚 how people react to the person inside the building.鈥�
When asked their opinion about whether Borrego should stay, players tended to diplomatically defer to Dumars, but didn’t shy away from complementing Borrego, either.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 the most convenient of circumstances,鈥� Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson said in reference to Borrego taking over a 2-10 team in November.
鈥淲ith the circumstances he was placed in, I think he made the most of his opportunity,” added Williamson, who 鈥� the second most in a season in his career 鈥� and averaged 21 points. “I think he did a good job.鈥�
Borrego, a former head coach with the , said he feels a strong connection to New Orleans, where he served twice as an assistant, including from 2023 until he was promoted this season. He said he felt he had a close and productive relationship with players across the roster and he wants to remain.
鈥淭he things I鈥檓 most proud of in the season are the commitment that I saw to competing every night,” Borrego said, complimenting his players for 鈥渘ever dropping the sword.鈥�
鈥淲e had an amazing spirit in our gym every single day. There was a commitment to development,鈥� Borrego said, noting the heavy minutes and statistical improvements of their two 2025 first-round draft picks, guard Jeremiah Fears (14.3 points per game) and forward Derik Queen (11.7 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game).
Under Borrego, the Pelicans were in 34 鈥渃lutch games,鈥� which in the NBA are classified as games within five points in the final five minutes. They went 10-24 in those contests.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a talented team, but we鈥檙e just not consistent enough. Talent alone doesn鈥檛 win,鈥� Dumars said. 鈥淪ome nights it was tough where we just did not look like the team we need to be, but that鈥檚 all part of figuring out who you are.鈥�
Borrego said he believes he could address the Pelicans’ enduring shortcomings more fully with an offseason in charge, something he did not have last summer.
鈥淚 did the most with what I was given in that time period,” Borrego said. 鈥淲ith an offseason, you鈥檙e going to make strides.鈥�
Borrego also cautioned Pelicans fans not to put too much stock in the benefits of yet another coaching change, and to try to see the wisdom in building upon what he sees as an upward trajectory with the current coaching regime in place.
鈥淲e can all look at teams that maybe over-reacted and under-reacted. It鈥檚 not an exact science,” Borrego said. “There is no complacency here. The goal is to win.
鈥淪ometimes with that comes change. You can overcorrect, under-correct,鈥� Borrego added. 鈥淭he bottom line is this is a motivated group to get better.
鈥淲e kept our energy high. We kept our spirit high,” Borrego said. “For that, I’m grateful.鈥�
Notes: Dumars said he expects Williamson’s improved reliability and productivity this season will prompt other teams to inquire about the possibility of trading for the 25-year-old power forward. But Dumars stressed that while he might take those calls, he does not envision trading Williamson, who also has said he’d prefer to remain with New Orleans.
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