In an NBA where Black coaches get limited opportunities and quick hooks even when they win, Alvin Gentry is doing something right in New Orleans and Pelicans GM Dell Demps believes that a squad with Anthony Davis and Boogie Cousinsand All-NBA defensive beast Jrue Holiday can do big things with the right coach and for now, Gentry is that guy.
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New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will take his deal through the 2020-21 season, league sources told ESPN.
Gentry has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will take his deal through the 2020-21 season, league sources told ESPN. Pelicans GM Dell Demps had previously exercised the team option on the 2018-19 season prior to the team’s first-round sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Gentry will receive a raise on his 2018-19 salary, a guaranteed contract for 2019-20 and a 2020-21 contract that will be performance-based, league sources said.
Gentry, 63, led the Pelicans to a 48-34 regular season and a sixth seed in the Western Conference before a 4-0 series victory over Portland in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Pelicans lost to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals. All of this was accomplished without the services of Boogie Cousins, which makes the future looks bright for this team. If they can resign the talented big man and bring free agent Rajon Rondo back to provide stability.
Gentry’s extension also raises the number of African-American NBA head coaches back to seven which definitely improves diversity numbers that were starting to lag.
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There’s a cultural shift going on in the NBA as it relates to coaching and front offices that I think is creating a problem for black coaches.” – @WhitlockJason https://t.co/0Zr1JrfY9F
