Two weeks after the Orlando Magic dismissed him as head coach of the franchise, Jamahl Mosley had his new home locked in after signing a five-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Mosley spent five years with the Magic and played a critical role in leading them from the depths of the Eastern Conference to a team that made the playoffs three years in a row. After 410 regular season games and 19 playoff games during his time in Orlando, Mosley could have taken time off, but he didn't.

In a recent interview with Seth Lewis of WWLTV, Mosley explained his reasoning for getting right back into coaching and why New Orleans was the place for him.

"Yeah, I mean, you could take off," Mosley said. "But one, when you sit down with Joe Dumars, you sit down with Troy, you sit down with Jordan, you sit down with Mrs. Benson, and you just see the passion that they have for this team, the vision that they have for this team, for this organization, for this city. 

"That was it," he added. "I mean, you talk about someone as decorated as Joe is and his ability to understand the vision that they have moving forward. It's hard not to be aligned with that. And that's who he is, and that's the way he represents this organization in this community."

Things have changed a lot for Mosley from his first press conference with the Magic as a rookie head coach; not just for him, but the external factors around him. When Mosley came to Orlando in July 2021 to lead the franchise, the world was still reeling from the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Mosley has a more of a chance to connect with his new team than he did with the Magic.

"Well, it gets you ahead of it," Mosley said. "You know, you have the summer to be able to work with guys, fly around, see them, bring them in the gym, different time frames. I think it's good. But like, the last time I did my first press conference, it was on Zoom.

"And so, to be able to be in front of a group of people and really express, you know, who you are," Mosley added. "And they can see what you represent and how you're trying to represent, you know, Pelicans basketball and this community means a lot."

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