New Orleans Pelicans promote Jodie Meeks to coaching staff

The NBA offseason might be dwindling down to its final days ahead of training camp, but the New Orleans Pelicans weren't done making moves just yet. While it hasn't been announced officially by the team yet, it appears that former 10-year NBA veteran Jodie Meeks will be joining the Pelicans sideline for the upcoming season.

Meeks split his time in the league on seven different NBA teams before officially announcing his retirement from professional basketball two years ago, after spending a bit of time playing for the Big 3 following his NBA career. Since then, he's been an assistant with the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, starting with their 2022-23 season.

Apparently, New Orleans's brass was impressed with what Meeks brought to the table for the Squadron and have decided to call him back up to the big leagues, this time as an assistant coach. Between his experience, skillset, and knowledge of playing a role in the NBA, there's a lot of wisdom that Meeks can bring to a young Pelicans team trying to get over the hump.

Jodie Meeks brings another NBA voice to the Pelicans coaching staff

Jodie Meeks spoke to the Louisville Courier Journal's Ryan Black about his newest opportunity and reflected on the journey that's led him to this spot:

""When I got the call to try to go to the G League and see what happens, I was excited about it... Stay around the game, get a chance to get on the floor with guys? It kind of just blossomed. [It’s been] a new challenge for me.”"

- Jodie Meeks

The specifics about Meeks's new position with the Pelicans hasn't been finalized yet, as he's only said that he'll be an assistant coach in New Orleans, but it can be surmised that he'll be brought in to help with the Pellies deep shooting. 3-point shooting has been a point of concern for a roster that's lacking in dangerous snipers but needs as much floor spacing as possible to complement its host of star slashers. Considering that Meeks built a decade-long NBA career around his deep marksmanship and the fact that the Pellies just lost their elite shooting coach, Fred Vinson, to the Detroit Pistons, it seems like Meeks is being brought in to fill that new void.

Meeks broke the news to a multitude of reporters during his induction into the University of Kentucky's Athletics Hall of Fame and now has the chance to further stack his sports resume. During his NBA tenure, Meeks got to play under some of the greatest basketball minds in league history, including Mike D'Antoni, Nick Nurse, and Stan Van Gundy. Hopefully, he can bring some of that prestige to Head Coach Willie Green's bench.