Former Sixer Turned Head Coach
Recently, the New Orleans Pelicans visited Philadelphia to play the 76ers. It was their lone visit during the 2023-24 season. Fans had a chance to see former No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, arguably the healthiest of his career. It was also an opportunity to see a former Sixer in his role as head coach. Willie Green, a second-round pick in 2003, has guided the Pelicans into a playoff team in a competitive Western conference. In his third season as an NBA head coach, Green’s win total has increased yearly. It is an impressive start for a guy who had no intentions of entering the coaching fraternity.
“I did not know I was going to coach,” Green said after his team beat the 76ers 103-95. “Throughout my career, I had great teammates who became coaches, and their influence made me want to get into coaching. Aaron McKie, Kevin Ollie, Eric Snow, and Greg Buckner; they were coaching me when I was young because they were my veterans.”
Green’s playing career spanned 12 seasons. He appeared in 731 games, of which the first 422 were with the 76ers. He came to the Sixers on a draft night trade with the Seattle SuperSonics. That same night, then-team president Billy King acquired another second-round pick in Kyle Korver. Korver went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA and is now the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks.
“That’s my brother,” Green said. “Kyle and I came into the league together. I always follow what he does. We don’t talk a ton, but when we do, we’re back in 2003.”
Green was a role player who, for his career, averaged 20 minutes and 8.3 points. Coming back to Philadelphia is always a positive. He was 22 years old, coming out of Detroit Mercy, when he earned his first minutes playing on an NBA hardwood floor. Twenty years later, walking the sideline of that same court brought him feelings of gratitude.
“Philly, I am grateful,” Green said. “I am grateful to have my start here. I had an opportunity to live out my dream of playing in the NBA. I came in with great teammates, great people. They took care of me but also made me tougher. I feel like if you can play in a city like this, in front of these fans, you can play anywhere.”
That toughness helped him endure a 1-12 start to his rookie head coaching season. The Pelicans went 35-34 the rest of the way that season. Green has always been calm, but it didn’t replace confidence. He manages to blend the two characteristics perfectly. He leaned on that blend that night in early March when his team led by 35 points only to see the Sixers get within five points late in the fourth quarter.
“The first half was a beautiful basketball display; getting stops, deflections, steals, rebounding the basketball,” Green said. “We played in the open floor. The ball was moving, and then in the second half, you know they aren’t going away. You know they are going to take pride in playing in this building on their home floor. They got physical with us.
“When you have your foot on a team’s neck, keep it there. You can’t let them get back into the game, get a rhythm, and get momentum. Give them credit, but some of the ownership of the second half is on us. It is hard to win in the NBA. I am super proud of our locker room.”
Green spoke like a seasoned coach. In addition to the former teammates Green said influenced his decision to get into coaching, the former shooting guard sat next to one of the all-time greats, Steve Kerr. Green was an assistant coach at Golden State from 2016 through 2019. He has two championship rings to remember his coaching beginnings.
He would love to direct his current team to such heights, but as he said, it takes a lot of work to win in the NBA, especially a championship. Still, he loves the game that served him well as a player and is doing the same for him as a coach.
“The similarities [are] the camaraderie and the platform [on which] the NBA allows guys to live out their dreams and take care of their families,” Green said. “Those are things we all wanted to do when we were young. The difference between then and now is that I believe the league is more talented. It’s faster. There is a lot more scoring. You have to adjust as a coach, but that is the league’s direction. And then you add the international piece to it; there are many international players. We love seeing the league continue to grow in this direction.”
