“I know he deserves it. He’ll be the most humble, prepared coach you’ve ever seen in your life… I’m unbelievably happy about the opportunity that he may get.” Chris Paul said after the New Orleans Pelicans announced Willie Green as their new head coach in 2021.

Born on July 28, 1981, Green embodies the spirit of resilience and leadership in the hoops world. His journey is marked by significant accolades, which include winning 2X NBA championships early in his coaching career. Isn’t that impressive?

But how did he achieve so much success? Let’s explore one of the most successful coaches in the basketball kingdom and his contract with the Pelicans.

Willie Green’s contract: A bright future for the Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green secured his position for the foreseeable future, much to the excitement of fans! Green had multiple years left on a contract extension that hadn’t been widely reported.

Although the exact terms of Green’s extension remain undisclosed, it is reportedly around $3.6 million, averaging $1.2 million per season. Green’s experience has been invaluable, highlighted by the two championship rings he earned as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. During his time in New Orleans, something special began to take shape. As his success in the NBA continues to grow, understanding his journey with the Pelicans becomes all the more important.

Building a new era: Willie Green’s journey with the Pelicans

Hired in July 2021, Green led the team through an impressive transformation, increasing their win total from 36 in his first season to 49 in the most recent year—an all-time franchise best!

Despite star player Zion Williamson’s injuries, the Pelicans showed resilience and were close to reaching the playoffs. Despite missing the entire 2021-2022 season, Williamson played a career-high 70 games this year, demonstrating his dedication under Green’s leadership. Now it feels right when Devin Booker said. “We’ve been through a lot these last two years of spending a lot of time together. We’ve developed a relationship, and I respect him to the fullest. New Orleans is going to get a really good guy on their hands that’s taking control and leading that group.” However, this isn’t just it. Let’s explore his contribution to the Pelicans.

Beyond the rrc: Willie Green’s 3-Point revolution for the Pelicans

Willie Green’s vision for the New Orleans Pelicans is all about ramping up those 3-point attempts. So, how does he plan to transform their offense to keep up in today’s NBA? Last season, the Pelicans averaged 32.6 3-point attempts per game. That’s a stark contrast to the mere 12.1 attempts by the Philadelphia 76ers when Green was a rookie back in 2003-04! It’s clear that the game has evolved, and Green is determined to push the Pelicans to shoot for 40 3-pointers per game this season.

He shared, “Growing up, coaches would always say, ‘Don’t let them off the hook’ just because you’re wide open from 3. That’s not letting them off the hook. I’m wide open. I work on that shot, and I have to be able to make it.” In his first three seasons, the Pelicans ranked 24th, 29th, and 24th in 3-point attempts. This year, he’s looking to change that.

Their first preseason game was a good sign—they shot 12 of 40 from beyond the arc. Zion Williamson summed it up well: “The message has been pretty clear. Get up at least 40 per game. That means we have to play with pace and just play basketball. In the grand scheme of things, it’s definitely going to be a positive for us.”

While Green has focused a lot on defense since taking the helm, this season’s challenge is to make their offense more dynamic without losing that defensive edge. He noted, “I’m growing, especially with (associate head coach) James Borrego being on me. I’m growing offensively like, ‘Those are good shots for us.’ Throughout the season, we are a high 3-point percentage shooting team. We want to take more if we can.”

Brandon Ingram is someone to watch in this strategy. He took 6.2 3s per game in his first season with the Pelicans but has dialed back since Green became coach. He didn’t play in the first preseason game against the Orlando Magic and will also miss the game against the Miami Heat.

In the preseason so far, the New Orleans Pelicans faced the Miami Heat and lost 101-99. Coach Willie Green had to adapt without key players like Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III. Zion Williamson looked dominant, scoring 13 points in just 17 minutes, reinforcing Green’s plan to make him a primary focus. Elfrid Payton’s return brought valuable experience, as he recorded seven assists off the bench. However, turnovers remain a significant concern, with 24 committed in this game. Green will need to address this issue as the team prepares for their final preseason match and the regular season ahead.