The New Orleans Pelicans have fired executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, the organization confirmed on Monday. This came after the Pelicans missed the postseason and had a 21-61 record at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season. New Orleans finished the campaign as the 14th-placed team in the Western Conference.
Griffin has been part of the franchise since the year they drafted All-Star forward Zion Williamson. The Pelicans signed the former basketball analyst in April 2019. Since then, the team has only been in the playoffs twice. Unfortunately for them, they’ve only lasted in the first round on both occasions.
New Orleans was sent home by the Phoenix Suns in 2022 after six games. Last season, the team was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Team owner Gayle Benson addressed their decision to part ways with Griffin.
“This was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is necessary at this time to bring a fresh approach to our front office and build a culture that will deliver sustainable success, on and off the court,” Benson said. “I am committed to hiring the right person to lead our basketball operations department and deliver an NBA Championship to our city. That is what our fans deserve. I am truly appreciative of David for his leadership and many contributions to the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans community over the last six years.”
The New Orleans Pelicans have fired executive vice president David Griffin, sources tell ESPN. After six seasons, the franchise will have a new head of basketball operations. pic.twitter.com/4VgYeMzwr3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2025
Benson did not address the future of head coach Willie Green. The head coach was hired by Griffin in 2021 and has a 127-119 record with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The New Orleans Pelicans are looking to hire a former NBA champion to replace Griffin
Following the organization’s decision to let Griffin go, their agenda has shifted to who will replace him as executive vice president of basketball operations. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the frontrunner for the position is two-time NBA champion for the Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars.
“Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is a serious frontrunner to become the lead basketball executive with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. The 2003 exec of the year and 2004 championship exec with the Pistons is a Louisiana native. Dumars is currently heading NBA basketball ops,” Charania reported on X (formerly Twitter).
Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is a serious frontrunner to become the lead basketball executive with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. The 2003 exec of the year and 2004 championship exec with the Pistons is a Louisiana native. Dumars is currently heading NBA basketball ops. pic.twitter.com/Du0Be1LrFS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2025
Dumars has experience being part of a franchise’s front office. He was the president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons from 2000 to 2014. Following that, he took on a special advisor for the general manager role for the Sacramento Kings in 2019 and became interim executive vice president of basketball operations in 2020.
Now, he’s working as the executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the NBA since 2022.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
