James Borrego

{{Infobox basketball biography

|name = James Borrego

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|team = New Orleans Pelicans

|position = Assistant coach

|league = NBA

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|11|12}}

|birth_place = Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.

|height_in = 5

|height_ft = 6

|weight_lb = 215

|high_school = Albuquerque Academy
(Albuquerque, New Mexico)

|college = San Diego (1998–2001)

|career_position = Forward

|coach_start = 2001

|cyears1 = 2001–2003

|cteam1 = San Diego (assistant)

|cyears2 = 2003–2010

|cteam2 = San Antonio Spurs (assistant)

|cyears3 = 2010–2012

|cteam3 = New Orleans Hornets (assistant)

|cyears4 = 2012–2015

|cteam4 = Orlando Magic (assistant)

|cyears5 = 2015

|cteam5 = Orlando Magic (interim)

|cyears6 = 2015–2018

|cteam6 = San Antonio Spurs (assistant)

|cyears7 = 2018–2022

|cteam7 = Charlotte Hornets

|cyears8 = 2023–present

|cteam8 = New Orleans Pelicans (assistant)

|highlights =

As assistant coach:

2× NBA champion (2005, 2007)

}}

James Albert Borrego (born November 12, 1977) is an American professional basketball coach who is currently the associate head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA).{{Cite web |date=2023-06-03 |title=Sources: Borrego to become Pels' associate HC |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37790282/sources-pelicans-hiring-james-borrego-associate-head-coach |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/coaches/_/id/2529259/james-borrego|title=NBA Coaches - James Borrego|work=ESPN|access-date=17 December 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Baloncesto: Inicia NBA inédito campo de entrenamiento en Cuba_spanish.xinhuanet.com |url=https://spanish.xinhuanet.com/photo/2015-04/24/c_134180152_2.htm |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=spanish.xinhuanet.com}}{{Cite web |last=CINID |title=Comenzó campamento de NBA y FIBA en La Habana |url=https://www.jit.cu/NewsDetails.aspx?idnoticia=36069 |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.jit.cu |language=Spanish}} He has previously served as head coach for the Charlotte Hornets, and as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs where he won two NBA championships under Gregg Popovich.

Early life and playing career

Borrego was born on November 12, 1977, in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is of Mexican American descent.{{Cite web|url=https://andscape.com/whhw/james-borrego-breaks-barrier-as-nbas-first-hispanic-full-time-head-coach/|title = James Borrego breaks barrier as NBA's first Hispanic full-time head coach Former Spurs assistant will lead Charlotte Hornets|date = May 11, 2018}} He played three seasons with the San Diego Toreros, and during his senior season (2000–01) was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team.

Coaching career

Borrego began his coaching career with his alma mater, University of San Diego, as an assistant from 2001 to 2003. During his tenure, San Diego captured the West Coast Conference Championship and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament in the 2002–2003 season.

After his coaching stay with the Toreros, Borrego began in 2003 his career in professional basketball with the San Antonio Spurs, starting as an assistant video coordinator in the summer of 2003 and being promoted to assistant coach afterwards. He spent seven seasons with the Spurs, being part of two NBA championship teams in 2005 and 2007 before leaving the team to join former Spurs' assistant Monty Williams when he took the head coach job with the New Orleans Hornets from 2010 until 2012.

Afterwards, he joined Jacque Vaughn as the lead assistant for the Orlando Magic. He took over the Magic when Vaughn was fired on February 5, 2015.{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=February 5, 2015 |title=Magic Relieve Jacque Vaughn of Head Coaching Duties; Name James Borrego as Interim Head Coach |url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/magic-relieve-jacque-vaughn-head-coaching-duties-name-james-borrego-interim-head-coach |access-date=February 5, 2015 |website=NBA.com}} On February 6, he made his coaching debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 103–97 in overtime.{{cite web |title=Borrego exhausted, but pleased after winning Magic debut |url=https://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/james-borrego-defeats-los-angeles-lakers-in-orlando-magic-head-coaching-debut-020615 |website=FOX Sports |access-date=December 11, 2019 |date=February 6, 2015}} On February 17, he became the coach of the team for the rest of the season.{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=February 17, 2015 |title=Borrego to Coach Magic for Remainder of Season; Kokoskov Hired as Assistant Coach |url=http://www.nba.com/magic/news/borrego-coach-magic-remainder-season-kokoskov-hired-assistant-coach |access-date=February 17, 2015 |website=NBA.com}}

On June 17, 2015, he returned to the Spurs as an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich.{{cite web |date=June 17, 2015 |title=Spurs Name James Borrego Assistant Coach |url=https://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-name-james-borrego-assistant-coach |access-date=June 17, 2015 |website=NBA.com}}

On May 10, 2018, the Charlotte Hornets named Borrego as their new head coach,{{cite web |date=May 10, 2018 |title=Hornets Name James Borrego Head Coach |url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/hornets-name-james-borrego-head-coach |access-date=May 10, 2018 |website=NBA.com}} signing him to a four-year deal with the team.{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=May 10, 2018 |title=Hornets hire James Borrego as head coach; 4-year deal, sources say |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23465022/charlotte-hornets-reach-four-year-deal-new-coach-james-borrego |access-date=May 10, 2018 |website=ESPN.com}} Borrego became the first Latino head coach in the NBA's 72-year history.{{cite web|title=A Sense of Pride: The NBA's First Latino Coach Draws Strength From His Heritage|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2018/09/27/james-borrego-charlotte-hornets-first-latino-nba-head-coach|website=SI.com|access-date=September 27, 2018|date=September 27, 2018}}

On August 9, 2021, the Hornets signed Borrego to a multi-year contract extension.{{cite web |date=August 9, 2021 |title=Charlotte Hornets Sign Head Coach James Borrego To Multi-year Contract Extension |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/charlotte-hornets-sign-head-coach-james-borrego-multiyear-contract-extension |access-date=August 9, 2021 |website=NBA.com}}

On April 22, 2022, Borrego was fired by the Hornets.{{Cite web |date=April 22, 2022 |title=Hornets Relieve James Borrego of Head Coaching Duties |url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/hornets-relieve-james-borrego-head-coaching-duties |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=NBA.com}}

On June 3, 2023, he returned to the Pelicans as an assistant coach for Willie Green.{{cite web |date=June 3, 2023 |title=James Borrego To Be Pelicans' Associate Head Coach |url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/06/james-borrego-to-be-pelicans-associate-head-coach.html |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=hoopsrumors.com}}

Personal life

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Borrego led Albuquerque Academy to a pair of state championships. In 2001, he earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in leadership studies from the University of San Diego.

He and his wife have a daughter and two sons.{{cite web |title=James Borrego |url=http://www.nba.com/coachfile/james_borrego/ |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018162343/http://www.nba.com/coachfile/james_borrego/ |archive-date=October 18, 2018}}