One week after stepping down from his position as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets, Mike D’Antoni has landed with the New Orleans Pelicans as a “coaching adviser” to new head coach Willie Green.
D’Antoni, the former head coach of five different NBA clubs, most notably the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, spent just one season as a Nets assistant.
The Pelicans’ announcement did not make it clear what D’Antoni’s role would entail, but he is not considered one of the team’s assistant coaches for 2021-22. New Orleans also announced Wednesday the hiring of Jarron Collins as an assistant coach; Collins will join returning assistants Casey Hill, Fred Vinson and Teresa Weatherspoon on Green’s first staff.
Green, 40, played in the NBA from 2003-15 and was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors (2016-19) and Phoenix Suns (2019-21) before the Pelicans hired him.
“This is a cohesive group of high-character individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets,” Green said in a statement. “I’m confident that their coaching and playing experience at the highest professional and collegiate levels, combined with their work ethic and team-focused approach, will help build the foundation we need to be successful.”
D’Antoni, 70, compiled 672-527 record as a head coach for the Denver Nuggets (1998-99), Suns (2003-08), Knicks (2009-12), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-14) and Rockets (2016-20). He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2004-05 with the Suns and 2016-17 with the Rockets.
Collins joins the Pelicans after seven seasons as an assistant coach for Steve Kerr and the Warriors, where he was a part of three NBA championship seasons.
–Field Level Media