The New Orleans Pelicans have made a splashy hire to their coaching staff.
The team announced on Friday that they have hired top defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik to be their associate head coach under current coach Alvin Gentry.
The 66-year-old Bzdelik had previously served in the same capacity for the Houston Rockets under head coach Mike D’Antoni. While his time with the team ended rather unceremoniously, Bzdelik was credited with transforming the Rockets defense en route to a series of deep playoff runs the last few years.
Bzdelik will have several above-average to elite defensive players to work with next season (Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Zion Williamson, and Jaxson Hayes, to name a few), so he may unlock the team’s potential on that end of the floor.
