New coach Mosley officially introduced by the Pelicans! Aiming to fully unlock Zion's potential, the team will ramp up physicality.

On May 27, Jamahl Mosley attended his introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Pelicans, officially stepping into the role. He stated that he will do everything possible to unleash Zion's extraordinary talent. Mosley believes the Pelicans' roster possesses comprehensive talent and flexible play styles, with core star Zion yet to reach his full potential.

"He (Zion) hasn't even shown the tip of the iceberg of his ability yet—I am absolutely certain of that," Mosley said in the interview. "I will create space for him to attack the rim more, and I'll also try him at different positions. He has a high basketball IQ, excellent passing vision, and can elevate his teammates. He knows when to make a move and deliver precise passes—he is already a top-tier player."

Mosley previously coached the Orlando Magic, leading them to three consecutive playoff appearances, but they never advanced past the first round. After the Magic lost in seven games to the Pistons in the first round this season, he was relieved of his duties earlier this month. Now he takes over a Pelicans team that managed only 26 and 21 wins over the past two seasons, a disappointing record.

Last season, Zion played 62 games, averaging 21 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 60% from the field. Staying healthy will be his top priority: the 2019 No. 1 overall pick has missed at least 30 games in three of his seven NBA seasons and sat out the entire 2021-22 season due to injury.

Talking about how to maximize Zion's skills, Mosley said: "We'll clear out the paint even more to give him room to attack the rim and get to the free-throw line consistently. The things he does on the court are already impressive—we need to keep that going while doing everything possible to keep the whole team healthy."

Mosley also has the task of developing young players like Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, and Derrick Quinn. The roster also features veterans such as Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, and Herbert Jones. In his view, this lineup offers plenty of versatility on the defensive end.

Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars said: "We had multiple in-depth conversations with Jamahal. Among all the candidates, he best fits our team-building philosophy. We also want to thank team owner Gayle Benson for providing us with ample resources to sign Jamahal and his coaching staff. When interviewing head coaches, people often ask: Can the organization provide the resources needed to contend for a championship? Now I can confidently say yes, and that confidence comes from the owner's support. We believe we've chosen the right person for the team—our philosophies, on-court ideas, and coaching direction are all highly aligned."

Defense is Mosley's trademark as a coach, and he stated that the Pelicans will play tough, physical basketball next season with maximum intensity on that end.

"This team is on the verge of a breakthrough," Mosley said about the Pelicans' current state. "But there are no shortcuts to growth. If you want to join the ranks of strong teams, you must develop good habits and stick to daily training discipline. Whether the team is in a rebuild or about to take off, we will give our all every day to help players grow on and off the court, striving to do our best."