The former coach of the Wagner brothers is starting with the New Orleans Pelicans and is immediately making multiple surprising decisions.
Just two weeks after his dismissal from the Orlando Magic, Jamahl Mosley has been hired as the new head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. In his first press conference on Tuesday, he made his intentions clear: Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson is staying – and is expected to thrive in a new role.
«He hasn’t even come close to showing what he’s capable of,» Mosley stated confidently, believing he can get even more out of the former No. 1 draft pick. However, Zion will no longer primarily act as a forward and finisher of plays. Instead, he will handle the ball more frequently as a playmaker: «I think we should give him more space on the court, involve him even more, and use him offensively at multiple positions.»
The 47-year-old explained his vision: «He is an excellent offensive player with a high basketball IQ. He can make the players around him better and knows exactly what the right plays and passes are.»
Easier Points and More Free Throws: The ‘Point Zion’ Plan
«Point Zion» is expected to drive to the basket more easily and draw more fouls this way, Mosley hopes. At the same time, he emphasized that he doesn’t aim to transform his protégé into a completely different player. «Some of his offensive performances here were already spectacular. We just need to ensure we continue that while staying healthy.»
In three of his seven NBA seasons, Williamson has played a maximum of 30 games. He also missed the entire 2021-2022 season due to injury. In the past season, he played in 62 games, averaging 21 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
‘Don’t Even Ask Me About Offense’: Mosley Plans for Defense Again
Despite all the offensive praise, Mosley also reiterated his primary focus for New Orleans. «You don’t need to ask me about offense,» he preemptively told the assembled journalists. «What we will achieve here, we will achieve thanks to our defense.»
These words are likely to evoke both good and bad memories for Orlando Magic fans. In two of the last three seasons, the Magic boasted one of the three best defenses in the entire NBA.
However, offensively, the Magic ranked among the ten worst teams in two out of three years, and Mosley failed to implement a functioning system around co-stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. This year’s playoffs also saw Orlando experience an offensive collapse of historical proportions in Game 6 of their hard-fought series against the Detroit Pistons.
Mosley appears to want to instill all the qualities that distinguished his old team on good days in the Pelicans as well. He specifically highlighted football as an inspiration for his philosophy of hard-nosed basketball: «I draw as much inspiration as possible from it,» he stated confidently, looking towards the NFL and other sports. «You can’t be afraid of physical contact. You can’t be afraid of being knocked down or knocking someone else down.»
Into the Future with Fears and Queen: Mosley to Drive the Rebuild
In New Orleans, Mosley will primarily be tasked with molding a young team. With Yves Missi, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen, there are three talents on the roster from whom the next step is expected. The new coach expressed particular excitement for Fears and Queen, who are entering only their second year.
«He has a tenacious quality about him and just exudes seriousness,» he praised Fears by name. «He is very driven. He wants to achieve great things here.» The same likely applies to his sophomore teammate Queen: «Whenever something happens here, he’s the first one to be ready. That’s exactly what we want to see.»
Mosley himself is expected to drive a rebuild and develop the team step by step, similar to his role with the Magic. According to widespread media reports, he will be given ample time for this, signing a five-year deal.
Last season, the Pelicans finished eleventh in the Western Conference with 26 wins and 56 losses. However, the gap to the play-in spots was significant, with the Golden State Warriors taking tenth place with a 37-45 record.
NBA: Jamahl Mosley’s Statistics with the Orlando Magic
| Season | Regular Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/2022 | 22-60 (15th) | — |
| 2022/2023 | 34-48 (13th) | — |
| 2023/2024 | 47-35 (5th) | Lost in the first round to the Cavaliers (3-4) |
| 2024/2025 | 41-41 (7th) | Lost in the first round to the Celtics (1-4) |
| 2025/2026 | 45-37 (8th) | Lost in the first round to the Pistons (3-4) |