Jamahl Mosley is back in charge of an NBA bench, and this time he is taking over in New Orleans. The Pelicans named the former Orlando Magic coach their next head coach on Monday, the team confirmed, after James Borrego held the job on an interim basis for the 2025-26 season. The move marks another major decision by new basketball operations chief Joe Dumars as the franchise looks to reset.
The decision officially ends Borrego’s stint as interim coach after a rocky, stop-and-start season for the Pelicans. The team announced the hire in a release and across its social platforms, according to NBA.com.
What Mosley Brings
Mosley spent five seasons as the Orlando Magic’s head coach, putting together a 189-221 record and steering that team to three straight playoff appearances before his dismissal following a first-round Game 7 loss, according to The Associated Press.
“Jamahl has earned tremendous respect across the NBA for his leadership, professionalism, and the strong relationships he develops with players and staff,” Dumars said in the announcement, signaling that the Pelicans are betting big on Mosley’s reputation as a communicator and culture builder.
Contract And Expectations
Industry reporting says Mosley agreed to a multi-year deal, with sources first reporting a five-year agreement, as first posted by ESPN insider Shams Charania and reproduced by ClutchPoints. The length of the contract signals that New Orleans is planning for a longer-term rebuild rather than a quick patch job.
The Short-Term Job
The Pelicans finished 26-56 last season, according to Basketball-Reference, leaving Mosley with a roster that mixes established names and developing prospects. He inherits headliners like Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray, along with recent first-round additions Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, per The Associated Press.
Over the coming weeks, Mosley is expected to begin assembling his staff and mapping out an offseason game plan that will cover draft evaluation, free agent scouting and early work with players who stay in New Orleans. For a franchise that has churned through both coaches and decision-makers over the past year, the hire is designed to bring some stability and a defense-first identity that mirrors the style of his Orlando teams.
