The New Orleans Pelicans may have just put the perfect guy in charge of this year's Summer League squad, Corey Brewer. Throughout his entire basketball career, both before and during his NBA tenure, he has been a winner. Prior to the NBA, he won back-to-back national championships at the University of Florida. He then went on to win an NBA championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.
One thing remained consistent throughout Brewer's 13-year NBA career: he was a true professional and someone teammates always spoke highly of. When you combine those traits with his high basketball IQ, it was clear he was destined for a coaching career.
That's why, when Brewer was named player development coach for the Pelicans in 2020, it came as no surprise to anyone. Since then, Brewer has been promoted to an assistant coaching role before being named the head coach of the Pelicans' Summer League squad.
Young players often thrive under the leadership of former players, guys who can relate to them. Jeremiah Fears is the perfect example: he and Brewer were both picked No. 7 in their respective draft classes. Although Fears and Brewer have different styles of play, both possess an extremely high motor and a high work ethic, qualities that define Brewer’s journey and could shape Fears' future.
Brewer is already instilling his identity into this group
After Brewer's first practice with the Summer League squad, Brewer made a clear statement on what the Pelicans plan to bring: "We are going to play hard...That’s going to be our identity. We are going to be the hardest-playing team, and we are going to get some wins.” This idea of playing hard was something Brewer embodied during his career, especially during his time in college.
At Florida, Brewer was a lockdown defender and ball hawk. He was the guy who took the toughest assignment night in and night out. Now, he’s looking to establish that same identity in his first opportunity as a head coach. Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears noted how impressed he was with Brewer’s energy and the way he pushed players.
The Pelicans boast an impressive roster, featuring exciting rookies, returning talent, and players seeking to prove themselves to NBA front offices. Pairing that with Brewer's desire to get this group playing with effort and intensity, they’re poised to make some serious noise in Vegas. Win or lose, one thing is clear: this group will stand out because of their effort.
For Brewer, this Summer League opportunity is about more than just developing young guys. It’s a showcase of how he could be an NBA-level head coach. Around the league, franchises are always watching for the next potential head coaching candidate, and a strong showing here could put Brewer firmly in that conversation.