Top Pelicans Assistant Bzdelik Won’t Travel To Orlando

Pelicans associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik won’t accompany the team to the NBA’s campus in Florida for the league’s return to play, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).

A defensive specialist and the top assistant on Alvin Gentry‘s staff, Bzdelik is 67 years old. He decided to stay in New Orleans after consulting with team doctors and CDC regulations, tweets Andrew Lopez of ESPN. Woj notes that the Pelicans are “supportive” of the decision.

Bzdelik will continue to work remotely and will be able to advise the team on defensive strategy from New Orleans, sources tell Lopez.

A report earlier this week indicated that older coaches wouldn’t be red-flagged based on their age alone. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t be permitted to opt out, or that certain coaches won’t be red-flagged for health reasons, as 66-year-old Lakers assistant Lionel Hollins was.

According to Lopez (via Twitter), no decision has been made yet on the status of Gentry, who is 65 years old.

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