Willie Green preaches the importance of ‘connecting with players’
After a long search and many interviews, the New Orleans Pelicans officially introduced new head coach Willie Green on Tuesday morning.
“We’re going to coach with love and accountability. You’re going to see a team that goes out and represents this city,” Green said. “We talked about being joyous…we want to have a good time doing it.”
Love. That was a main subject of today’s press conference.
Green made it clear that ‘connecting with players’ and showing that you care about one another will be the foundation of this organization.
“When I think about coaching…the best coaches are not the X’s and O’s. People can do that. The best coaches are the ones that you know care about you,” Green said. “And connecting with players is no different than just connecting with people. You quickly realize you have a lot more in common than you don’t.”
Who Green coached under certainly shows with his coaching philosophy. Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Suns coach Monty Williams are known for their ability to connect with their players and create an environment that is inviting as not only a player but a person.
"Most guys want to be coached at a high level but they also want to feel that you care and love them. I think that's most important," Green said. "What I mean by love is being loving. The best coaches in the world are not necessarily about X's and O's. The coaches or teachers you remember are the ones that care about you. They get more out of you. That's the essence of coaching -- they have to believe you care."
Connecting with a group like the Pelicans have will be crucial to Green and the team's success. Coming off a failed one-year stint with Stan Van Gundy as the head coach, it was evident that David Griffin and company harped on hiring a leader who not only had playing experience but could relate to New Orleans' young locker room. "That's sort of my take and my approach in basketball. It's easier to get people to reach their max when they know you care about them. That's my way or our way of connecting with players."
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