When the New Orleans Pelicans take the floor in Orlando, they’ll be without one of their key defensive minds, assistant coach Jeff Bzdelik.
The strangest season in NBA history just took another turn for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pels will be without their top assistant coach, Jeff Bzdelik, whose agent informed the team he would not be joining them in Orlando when the season re-starts.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New Orleans Pelicans’ organization was supportive of the move:
New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik, 67, won’t be joining the team in Orlando, his agent Warren LeGarie tells ESPN. The organization is supportive of the decision.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2020
Bzdelik is 67-years-old, thus falls squarely into the age category of people most affected by COVID-19.
Bzdelik, who is in his first year with the team, was previously the head coach in Denver and has emerged as one of the Pelicans’ most important assistants when it comes to defense.
Bzdelik will still be coming up with defensive strategy, but he’ll be doing it from New Orleans and not with the team. He made his decision after meeting with team doctors.
New Orleans Pelicans: Alvin Gentry still unsure about Orlando
The next question is what is going to happen with head coach Alvin Gentry, who is 65, also within the dangerous age range for the virus.
Gentry has been adamant that he wants to coach, but also added that he doesn’t know how the NBA is ultimately going to handle safety concerns for older coaches.
Gentry was asked what he thought the league would do during a press conference on Monday, but Gentry quickly turned the conversation back to basketball, saying:
"“My plan right now is to be in Orlando, and I’m looking forward to it, really. I think as the season was put on hiatus we were playing really good basketball, and hopefully we can get back to that. That’s why I’m not treating it like a training camp, I’m treating it like picking up where we left off when the season went on hiatus.”"
Gentry is one of three coaches who fall into the high-risk age demographic for COVID-19, the other two being Rick Carlisle and Greg Popovich, but he is obviously still planning on coaching if he’s allowed.
If he does, he’ll be without one of his top assistant coaches, Jeff Bzdelik, who is making the smart choice to protect himself, especially after it was revealed that three of the New Orleans Pelicans tested positive.