Former Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego lands in New Orleans, source says
James Borrego is back on the bench.
A little over a year after he was fired by the Charlotte Hornets, Borrego has agreed to become the associate head coach in New Orleans alongside Willie Green, a league source confirmed to The Observer on Saturday.
Borrego, 45, compiled a 138-163 mark during his four seasons with the Hornets before being ousted following Charlotte’s 29-point loss to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, marking the second consecutive season the Hornets were bounced in the opening round of the NBA’s revamped postseason.
The Hornets hired Steve Clifford — Borrego’s predecessor — as the team’s coach last June after being spurned by Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson. Charlotte compiled a 27-55 record in an injury-ravaged season in 2022-23, highlighted by ankle injuries to star point guard LaMelo Ball, and landed the No. 2 overall selection in the NBA Draft on June 22.
In Borrego’s final season in 2021-22,the Hornets posted a 43-39 mark, representing the franchise’s first winning record since 2016. When Borrego was fired, he had two years remaining on his contract from the multi-year extension he inked in 2021. He spent the past year in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Borrego has ties with Green, having been a part of then-coach Monty Williams’ staff in New Orleans when Green was a player under Williams during the 2010-11 season.
This story was originally published June 3, 2023 at 6:46 PM.
