Alvin Gentry
FILE - New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy calls out from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in New Orleans, in this Wednesday, April 14, 2021, file photo. The Knicks won 116-106. Stan Van Gundy is out as Pelicans coach following just one season at the helm, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday, June 16, 2021, because the move has not been publicly announced. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy out after 1 season at helm

By Brett Martel Jun. 16, 2021 11:26 AM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, then-Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, left, talks with an official during the second half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Chicago Bulls made sweeping changes to their front office for the 2020-21 season and snagged Donovan, one of the top coaches on the market, hoping an overhaul in leadership will carry them back to respectability. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
New NBA coaches for 9 teams navigating compressed timeline

By Brett Martel Dec. 19, 2020 11:31 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2020, file photo, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For NBA coaches, masks are required this season. Jackets are not. Rules for coaching attire will be relaxed by the league this year, though not as much as was the case during play at the bubble at Walt Disney World this past summer. Suit jackets or sport coats will not be required — but coaches won’t be able to wear the short-sleeved shirts that most donned for games in the bubble, either. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool, File)
NBA coaches attire: Masks are in, jackets are optional

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 08, 2020 07:55 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2020, file photo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attends an NBA basketball game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Silver talked about the challenges the league will face going forward, in his annual state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool, File)
Silver: NBA still hoping to open next season in arenas

By Tim Reynolds Sep. 30, 2020 08:56 PM EDT

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, right, talks with an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Pelicans fire Alvin Gentry after 5 seasons as team's coach

By Brett Martel Aug. 15, 2020 03:21 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, second from left, wears a Black Lives Matter shirt and kneels with teammates during the national anthem prior to an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
Players, coaches kneel before NBA's re-opening night

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 30, 2020 07:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 4, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots free throws prior to an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. The NBA said Saturday, July 25, 2020, that Williamson will have to serve a four-day quarantine for leaving the league’s Disney bubble on July 16 to tend to an urgent family matter. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Pelicans place Zion Williamson in starting lineup vs. Utah

Jul. 30, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, March 3, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Los Angeles. Davis left his team’s scrimmage against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, July 25, 2020, after being poked in the right eye and is listed as day-to-day. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Davis, Williamson say they're ready for re-opening night

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 29, 2020 04:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. The rookie sensation’s availability to play remained unclear as the season’s resumption in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approached. He left the NBA’s so-called “bubble” setup on July 16 to attend to an unspecified family medical matter. A week later, the club had yet to provide an update on his possible return. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
Zion Williamson practicing, could play in Pelicans' opener

By Brett Martel Jul. 28, 2020 08:47 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. The rookie sensation’s availability to play remained unclear as the season’s resumption in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approached. He left the NBA’s so-called “bubble” setup on July 16 to attend to an unspecified family medical matter. A week later, the club had yet to provide an update on his possible return. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
Pelicans eye playoff push with or without Zion

By Brett Martel Jul. 23, 2020 08:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020, file photo, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich argues for a call against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Denver. The Spurs will try to extend the longest active playoff streak in the four major pro sports without LaMarcus Aldridge and with a decent mathematical chance to sneak into the final postseason spot in the Western Conference. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Masked man: Spurs' Popovich wears face covering for game

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 23, 2020 04:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 file photo, New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. The unusual resumption of the NBA season during the coronavirus pandemic is making mental health a priority. Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday expects basketball to be the easy part of living in the NBA’s “bubble” when 22 teams gather in Central Florida to resume their suspended seasons later this month. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)
Inside the bubble, NBA players have plenty of options

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 15, 2020 05:44 PM EDT

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich points to his bench during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Popovich had reservations, but Spurs coach ready for restart

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 11, 2020 04:05 PM EDT