Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans trace their roots to the Charlotte Hornets, an NBA expansion franchise founded in 1988. After the 2001–02 season, owner George Shinn relocated the franchise to New Orleans, where they were rebranded the New Orleans Hornets. The move marked the beginning of a turbulent but ultimately defining chapter in franchise history. Hurricane Katrina forced the team to temporarily relocate to Oklahoma City for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, where they played as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets before returning to Louisiana.\n\nThe franchise's first golden era centered on Chris Paul, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. Paul's 2007–08 season — 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, and 2.7 steals per game on the way to a 56–26 record — was a legitimate MVP-caliber campaign and remains the defining performance in franchise history. Paul's instinctive brilliance transformed the Hornets into a legitimate Western Conference contender, drawing comparisons to the point guard greats who came before him.\n\nIn 2013, the franchise was rebranded the New Orleans Pelicans and selected Anthony Davis first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. Davis spent seven seasons in New Orleans, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks — and arguably the best player in franchise history. Despite his generational two-way dominance, the Pelicans struggled to build championship-caliber rosters around him. Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 in exchange for a haul of young players and draft picks that would shape the franchise's next chapter.\n\nThe Zion Williamson era began with the 2019 first overall pick. Williamson's combination of 6-foot-6, 284-pound physicality and guard-like explosiveness made him one of the most anticipated prospects in draft history. Injuries have clouded an otherwise transcendent talent — when healthy, Williamson ranks among the most efficient scorers the NBA has ever seen. The franchise built around him has added Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Dejounte Murray, and a collection of promising young players representing the next competitive window.\n\nThe Pelicans honor Pete Maravich's #7 as a tribute to the 'Pistol,' who starred for the New Orleans Jazz from 1974–79 and remains the most beloved basketball figure in Louisiana history. His legacy connects the city's basketball roots to the present franchise.