Suns’ Williams, Booker thrilled Willie Green is on verge of Pelicans job

Members of the media saw the Suns end shootaround Friday by gathering at half court. The team congratulated assistant coach Willie Green on his next chapter, which will reportedly be as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.

A very special moment at practice with Monty Williams speaking about and then embracing assistant coach Willie Green, who rumors have taking the head coaching position for the Pelicans when the finals wrap up. pic.twitter.com/SVSxw6WtSl

— Patrick Breen 🌵 (@pjbreenphoto) July 16, 2021

Although nothing is official, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has been reporting over the last week that Green has been a frontrunner to replace Stan Van Gundy as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.

“If all of this is official and he moves forward, I’m happy and I’m unbelievably sad about it because he’s just a huge part of my life. He’s been a big, big part of our program,” head coach Monty Williams said.

Green played 12 seasons as a player including one with the New Orleans Hornets. Currently in his second season coaching with the Suns, Green won back-to-back championships as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

As a defensive minded coach, Green will be tasked with fixing a Pelicans defense that finished 23rd in defensive efficiency last season, where as the Suns finished 6th. Green has worked closely with the Suns’ guards, including All-Star Devin Booker.

“Man, it’s hard to put words to it,” Booker said. “Just excited for him first, his family. We’ve been through a lot in these two years or year and a half of spending a lot of time together. We’ve developed a relationship. I respect him to the fullest. You know how he’s going to be able to take care of his family. I’m sure it’s been something he’s been working for, wanting to get to for a very long time.”

Green will finish the NBA Finals in his assistant role with Phoenix.