Lakers Handle Business as Pelicans Continue to Spiral Under Interim Coach James Borrego
Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena was another reminder of where two franchises currently stand - and how far apart they are. The Los Angeles Lakers, now finding their rhythm under first-year head coach JJ Redick, took care of business against a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team that’s still searching for answers. The final score, 133-121, doesn’t quite capture how lopsided this matchup felt for most of the night.
For the Pelicans, this season has been a grind - and not the good kind. With a 3-17 record, they’re sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference and only ahead of the Washington Wizards in the overall standings.
The coaching change from Willie Green to interim head coach James Borrego hasn’t sparked much of a turnaround, at least not yet. And Sunday’s loss to the Lakers was another tough chapter in what’s already been a long season.
A Full-Circle Moment for Borrego
For Borrego, Sunday night was more than just another game on the schedule. It was personal.
The former Charlotte Hornets head coach was in the mix for the Lakers’ head coaching job this past offseason - a position that ultimately went to Redick. Borrego, who grew up a Lakers fan, reflected on what it meant to even be considered for the job.
“There was a lot going on that summer, there were a lot of interviews that summer, I think. I grew up a Lakers fan, number one, so to come here and interview for the job was so surreal and like a dream,” Borrego said in his pregame press conference.
That dream didn’t materialize into a job offer, but it’s clear the moment still carried weight for him.
Coaching Résumé and the Road to New Orleans
Borrego’s coaching journey has taken him across the league. He started as an assistant with the then-New Orleans Hornets, spent time with the Orlando Magic (including a stint as interim head coach), and then served under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio - a coaching tree that’s produced plenty of top-tier basketball minds.
From there, he landed the head job in Charlotte, where he coached from 2018 to 2022 before being let go. The Pelicans brought him back as an assistant, and now, in the wake of Green’s firing, he’s been thrust into the interim role.
It’s not an easy gig. The Pelicans are a team in flux, and Borrego’s trying to stabilize things on the fly.
No Help From the Roster
To be fair, Borrego’s been handed a roster that’s barely held together. Injuries have hit hard. Against the Lakers, the Pelicans were without Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Jordan Poole, and Dejounte Murray - a brutal combination of absences for a team already short on answers.
That kind of injury report makes it tough to compete, let alone win. And with the Pelicans already having traded away their unprotected 2026 first-round pick in the Derik Queen deal, there’s no incentive to bottom out - yet that’s exactly where they find themselves.
Lakers Continue to Build Under Redick
“I grew up a Lakers fan, No. 1, so to come here and interview for the job was so surreal and like a dream.” Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego reflects on being a finalist for the Lakers’ head coaching vacancy in 2024. pic.twitter.com/QF7SwXVfct
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 1, 2025
While the Pelicans are trying to stay afloat, the Lakers are quietly building something solid under Redick. The rookie head coach has brought a fresh energy to the locker room and a modern touch to the team’s offensive schemes. Sunday’s win was another step in the right direction - a balanced effort that showcased both their depth and their growing confidence.
It’s still early in the season, but the Lakers look like a team that’s buying into what Redick is selling. And for a franchise that’s always under the microscope, that kind of cohesion matters.
What’s Next for Borrego?
It’s unclear whether Borrego will get a real shot at the full-time job in New Orleans. Coaching evaluations are never easy, but they’re especially tricky when the roster is in pieces and the losses are piling up. What’s clear is that he’s respected around the league and has the experience to lead a team - but whether that opportunity comes in New Orleans or elsewhere remains to be seen.
For now, he’s trying to keep the Pelicans competitive, even as the odds stack higher against him. Sunday night was a reminder of just how steep that climb is.