Pelicans Fire Alvin Gentry After Rough Showing in NBA Bubble

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The New Orleans Pelicans went 2-6 in the bubble, and it was apparently too much for the team to keep head coach Alvin Gentry.

New Orleans announced Gentry was relieved of his head coaching duties early Saturday morning.

Some experts thought Gentry would make it to next season because of the limitations put on Zion Williamson by the Pelicans medical staff.

The 2019 No. 1 pick only played in five games, where the Pelicans went 1-4. Williamson averaged just over 20 minutes per game (20.6).

Gentry still had a year left on his contract. In his four seasons, Gentry and the Pelicans only reached the playoffs once. He finishes under .500 in New Orleans with a record of 145-183.

The New York Times’ Marc Stein gave an early look at who the Pelicans are eyeing for their new vacancy.

Clippers assistant coach Ty Lue and Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd are expected to be prime candidates for the Pelicans’ coaching vacancy, league sources say, with Lue and Kidd also both on the Nets’ list of prospective candidates when Brooklyn’s search starts in earnest soon

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 15, 2020