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New Orleans Pelicans: Why Willie Green is the NBA’s next great coach

By Aaron Kellerstrass

Head coach Willie Green of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Head coach Willie Green of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans, Willie Green
Head coach Willie Green of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Willie Green was the calm voice in the Pelicans’ huddle

Willie Green took a much different approach to his predecessor Stan Van Gundy, who was prone to losing his voice from all the screaming.

Green had a calm way about him, which I really think helped carry the New Orleans Pelicans through their rough patches.

He always stayed calm, consistent, getting his message across without being an army drill sergeant. The young Pelicans responded, and he gained their respect throughout the season by being more of a teacher and mentor than a guy who blows a gasket screaming.

Even when Coach Green did get animated, he always communicated clearly and let players know exactly why he was calling them “Up” and not “out.”

https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1455737705275424775

He was the type of teacher and leader the Pelicans needed, as he had a sense of when to give his players tough love and when to back off, which is something all modern coaches need to know how to do in a league dominated by egos.

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