Pelicans interview Rajon Rondo, Nets assistant Steve Hetzel in coaching search

The Pelicans continue to cast a wide net in their search for their next head coach.

According to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line, former All-Star guard Rajon Rondo is among the candidates and has already interviewed for the position.

Rondo, who retired in 2022 after a 16-year NBA career, joined Doc Rivers’ staff in Milwaukee in 2024 as a special assistant. He has expressed interest in coaching dating back to his time in Boston, when he was included in select staff meetings while rehabbing a torn ACL.

League sources tell Fischer and Stein that New Orleans has also reached out to several other candidates, including Sean Sweeney of the Spurs, Darvin Ham of the Bucks and Steve Hetzel of the Nets. Hetzel has also already interviewed for the position, per William Guillory of The Athletic.

In addition, the Pelicans have requested permission to interview Jarrett Jack, currently an assistant with the Pistons. Jack spent three seasons in New Orleans as a player and moved into coaching following his retirement in 2021.

Interim head coach James Borrego remains a strong candidate to keep the job on a permanent basis. Borrego took over in mid-November following the dismissal of Willie Green and guided the team to a 24-46 record the rest of the way.

New Orleans has not announced a timeline for hiring its next head coach.