New Orleans Pelicans Bio
The New Orleans Pelicans are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The franchise competes in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference Southwest Division and plays home games at the Smoothie King Center.
Early Life and Background
The franchise was established in 2002 when the Charlotte Hornets relocated to New Orleans and operated initially under the Hornets name. The club moved its base temporarily after Hurricane Katrina, spending the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons in Oklahoma City before returning to New Orleans for the 2007–08 season.
Ownership changed in 2012 when Tom Benson purchased the team, and the organization later adopted a locally inspired identity. The Brown Pelican, Louisiana’s state bird, became the basis for the franchise’s rebranding to the New Orleans Pelicans at the end of the 2012–13 season.
Path to Basketball
The franchise carried over elements from its Charlotte origins while building a distinct New Orleans identity through logos, uniforms and community ties. Early investments in marquee players and draft assets defined the club’s effort to establish a competitive foothold in the Western Conference.
The team expanded its regional profile by hosting the 2008 NBA All-Star Game and by adopting city-inspired uniforms and logos that reflect New Orleans culture. The organization also developed a G League affiliation to support player development and depth.
New Orleans Pelicans Career
Early Career (2002–2007)
The franchise opened its New Orleans era in the 2002–03 season and reached the playoffs in its first season after relocating. The mid-2000s included roster turnover and the disruption of Hurricane Katrina, which prompted a two-season relocation to Oklahoma City while the team maintained ties to New Orleans for selected home games.
When the club returned full time for the 2007–08 season it recorded its most successful regular season to date, setting the stage for the franchise’s first division crown and a deeper playoff run under the Hornets name.
Chris Paul Era (2005–2011)
The arrival of Chris Paul proved pivotal for the franchise’s competitive rise. With Paul directing the offense, the team recorded a 56–26 regular-season mark in 2007–08, won the Southwest Division and advanced past the first round of the playoffs that season.
The 2008 playoff run included a first-round series victory over the Dallas Mavericks and a seven-game conference semifinal against the San Antonio Spurs. The period under Paul established the club as a Western Conference contender and raised its national profile.
Anthony Davis Era (2012–2019)
The franchise selected Anthony Davis with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, a move that reshaped the roster’s long-term strategy. New ownership under Tom Benson initiated a formal rebranding process and the team became the New Orleans Pelicans beginning with the 2013–14 season.
Under the Davis era the club captured a division title and produced notable playoff moments, including a postseason sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2018. Following Davis’ trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019, the franchise acquired multiple young pieces and draft assets in a multi-year roster rebuild.
Zion Williamson Era (2019–present)
The Pelicans selected Zion Williamson with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft and the organization pivoted around his unique combination of size and athleticism. Injuries delayed Williamson’s early availability, but his arrival marked another era built around a high-impact frontcourt presence.
The team has continued to pursue complementary talent through the draft and trades, and it expanded its perimeter scoring and veteran depth in subsequent seasons. The roster construction during this era has included blockbuster transactions and recurring appearances in the NBA play-in window.
Current Team Era (2024–Present)
The franchise currently lists Trajan Langdon as general manager, Dennis Lauscha as president and identifies James Borrego as interim head coach. Ownership is held by Gayle Benson, and the Pelicans maintain a G League affiliation to the Birmingham Squadron to support player development and call-ups.
Recent roster moves in the 2024–25 cycle have featured significant trades that reshaped backcourt and wing depth, while the club continued to emphasize a blend of youth and veteran experience on and off the court.
Driving Style and Strengths
The Pelicans’ teams in recent eras have been built around dominant frontcourt scorers and athletic interior play, complemented at times by playmaking guards and perimeter shooters. The franchise has leveraged its draft positioning and trade assets to prioritize high-impact two-way forwards and centers to anchor its lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include the temporary relocation to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina, the franchise’s lone division title in 2008, the 2013 rebrand from Hornets to Pelicans, and high-profile draft selections and trades that shaped each era, including the selections of Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.
New Orleans Pelicans Career Wins
The franchise has recorded multiple playoff appearances and two playoff series victories under its New Orleans tenure, and it claims one Southwest Division title. Those achievements reflect periodic peaks of regular-season success and postseason competitiveness.
NBA Highlights
The franchise’s verified team highlights include the 2008 Southwest Division title and postseason series victories in 2008 and 2018, including a first-round sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2018. These seasons provided the organization with its deepest playoff advances to date.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Beyond headline playoff series, the Pelicans have developed multiple All-Star caliber players and award winners within the organization, and the club has produced notable individual performances and seasonal award recognition during eras anchored by core franchise talents.
New Orleans Pelicans Family
Family Background and Franchise Lineage
The franchise traces its lineage to the Charlotte Hornets and has preserved New Orleans records since the 2002 relocation. Ownership transitioned to Tom Benson in 2012 and transferred to Gayle Benson in 2018 following Tom Benson’s death, establishing continuity between the Pelicans and the New Orleans Saints organization.
Personal Life
The franchise identifies Pierre the Pelican as its official mascot, introduced with the Pelicans name. Team colors are navy blue, gold and red, reflecting local iconography and the city flag, and the Smoothie King Center serves as the franchise’s primary home arena under a long-term naming-rights arrangement.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season cycle has been defined by roster adjustments and new roster construction following the 2024 offseason. A marquee trade in 2024 brought key backcourt talent to New Orleans, and the roster continued to shift during the 2024–25 campaign, including a February 2025 trade that moved a veteran forward in exchange for veteran guards, draft assets and frontcourt depth.
On the organizational side, the Pelicans announced international preseason participation in October 2025 as part of an NBA x NBL exhibition series, reflecting the franchise’s broader calendar planning. The club will enter the 2025 season under interim head coaching leadership, with front office direction emphasizing roster flexibility, player health and the development pathway between the Pelicans and the Birmingham Squadron.
