The New Orleans Pelicans are adding one of basketball’s most recognizable development voices to Jamahl Mosley’s first staff. NBA insider Michael Scotto reported on Saturday that God Shammgod has agreed to join the Pelicans as an assistant coach on the front of the bench.
Shammgod arrives with a clear coaching track record that fits a team trying to reset its direction. He worked in player development at Providence from 2012 to 2015, then spent six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks before moving to the Orlando Magic as an assistant for the 2025-26 season.
The move also deepens the Mosley-Shammgod connection. Shammgod previously worked with Mosley in Orlando and also coached under Rick Carlisle and Jason Kidd in Dallas, giving New Orleans a staff member familiar with multiple NBA systems and developmental environments.
That background matters for a Pelicans team that is trying to climb out of a 26-56 season. New Orleans had enough talent to keep the front office searching for a quicker path forward, but the roster never found enough stability to turn scoring into wins.
The Pelicans still have a core that can make the job interesting. Zion Williamson averaged 21.0 points on 60.0% shooting in 62 games, Trey Murphy III led the club at 21.5 points per game, and Herb Jones remains one of the league’s most valuable wing defenders.
Mosley was hired earlier this week on a five-year contract, and the structure of the hire suggests New Orleans wants more than a temporary fix. The franchise appears to be betting on continuity, development, and a more organized defensive identity after a year that exposed too many gaps on both ends.
Shammgod’s reputation is tied to player growth, which could be especially useful for a roster with multiple players still in important developmental stages. A bench role in front of Mosley also signals that the Pelicans want his voice heard early and often.
