50 Fun Facts About New Orleans Pelicans

What name did the Pelicans' home arena, formerly New Orleans Arena, take in 2014?

The naming rights went to a smoothie chain headquartered in nearby Metairie.

From which city did George Shinn relocate the Hornets to New Orleans in 2002?

Falling attendance and Shinn's unpopularity after a 1997 rape allegation drove the move.

Where did the Hornets temporarily relocate for two seasons after Hurricane Katrina?

They played most home games at the Ford Center; a year after they left, the SuperSonics moved there for good.

In which year did the franchise change its name from Hornets to Pelicans?

The change let Charlotte reclaim the Hornets name and its 1988–2002 records the following year.

Which ABA founding member played in the city from 1967 to 1970 before moving to Memphis?

The lack of a dedicated arena drove them out, a problem the Jazz later faced too.

Which team, founded in New Orleans in 1974, left for Salt Lake City in 1979 and kept its name?

Pistol Pete Maravich won the 1977 scoring title for them in New Orleans.

Which team nearly moved to New Orleans in 1994 before the NBA blocked the sale?

They would have played in the Superdome until a new arena was built.

Which Louisville basketball figures publicly opposed the 2001 Hornets relocation plan?

David Stern recalled thinking, 'If Rick Pitino doesn't want us there, why would we go?'

Which team did the Hornets beat 100–75 in their first game in New Orleans on October 30, 2002?

It was the first regular-season NBA game in the city in over 17 years, and Pete Maravich's No. 7 was retired at halftime.

Whose number 7 did the Hornets retire at halftime of their first New Orleans game?

The LSU legend had starred for the New Orleans Jazz in the 1970s.

What was the Hornets' franchise-worst record in 2004–05, the year before drafting Chris Paul?

Injuries to the team's three All-Stars sank the season; it was their first in the Western Conference.

From which college did the Hornets draft Chris Paul in 2005?

He won Rookie of the Year while the team was based in Oklahoma City.

What was the Hornets' record in 2007–08, their most successful season, when they won their first division title?

They beat Dallas in the first round and lost a seven-game series to the champion Spurs.

Which host city held the 2008 NBA All-Star Game as part of the Hornets' return from their Katrina exile?

The game was used to help re-market the team after Katrina.

The Hornets' 2008 rebrand introduced pinstripes and a new shade named for what, in place of teal?

Purple and Mardi Gras gold rounded out the palette, with lettering inspired by wrought-iron designs.

Who bought the Hornets from George Shinn in December 2010 for about $300 million?

League ownership meant David Stern was acting as the team's president when he vetoed the Chris Paul trade.

Which team got Chris Paul in December 2011 after David Stern vetoed a trade to the Lakers?

New Orleans received Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and the pick that became Austin Rivers.

Which NFL owner bought the Hornets from the NBA in April 2012 for $338 million?

He installed Saints executives Mickey Loomis and Dennis Lauscha to oversee the basketball team.

Whom did the Hornets select with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft?

Conspiracy theorists cited a photo of him in a Hornets hat as proof the lottery was rigged.

Which two names did the new owner reportedly favour before settling on 'Pelicans'?

He also asked the Utah Jazz to give back the 'Jazz' name; they declined.

The 'Pelicans' name honours the brown pelican, the state bird of which state?

A minor-league baseball team called the Pelicans had played in New Orleans from 1901 to 1957.

The Pelicans' navy, gold and red colours are each drawn from what?

The 'New Orleans' wordmark is inspired by French Quarter street signs.

Which All-Star point guard did the Pelicans get from Philadelphia on 2013 draft night for Nerlens Noel?

He spent seven seasons in New Orleans and later won titles in Milwaukee and Boston.

Under the 2014 records agreement, the New Orleans NBA franchise is officially considered to have entered in which year?

The 1988–2002 Hornets records went back to Charlotte, retroactively making New Orleans a 2002 expansion team.

Which team swept the Pelicans in their first playoff appearance under the new name in 2015?

New Orleans had edged Oklahoma City for the eighth seed on a head-to-head tiebreaker.

Which centre did the Pelicans get from Sacramento in 2017 for a package including Buddy Hield?

He tore his Achilles the following season, ending the 'Twin Towers' pairing with Anthony Davis.

Nikola Mirotić demanded a trade from Chicago in 2018 after being punched in practice by which teammate?

He arrived in New Orleans for Ömer Aşık, Jameer Nelson and Tony Allen and played well.

Which team did the Pelicans sweep in the 2018 first round for their second-ever playoff series win?

They then lost in five to the champion Warriors.

Who inherited ownership of the Pelicans and Saints when the team's owner died in March 2018?

His widow became the first woman to own both an NBA and an NFL team.

With what percentage chance did the Pelicans win the 2019 draft lottery and the right to pick Zion?

It came four months after Anthony Davis demanded a trade.

Which three players did the Pelicans get from the Lakers, with three first-round picks, in the 2019 superstar trade?

The package included the fourth overall pick, which New Orleans flipped to Atlanta for the eighth, 17th and 35th.

Which executive was hired in April 2019 to run the Pelicans' basketball operations, replacing Dell Demps?

He had built LeBron's title team in Cleveland; Trajan Langdon came in as GM a month later.

How many points did Zion Williamson score in his NBA debut in January 2020, in just 18 minutes?

He had missed the start of the season after preseason knee surgery.

Which Pelicans forward won Most Improved Player and made his first All-Star team in 2019–20?

He scored a career-high 49 in an overtime win over Utah that January.

Which guard did the Pelicans acquire from Portland at the 2022 trade deadline?

Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell came too; Zion missed the entire season with a foot fracture.

Which 2021 second-round pick made the All-Defensive First Team for the Pelicans in 2023–24?

He was the fourth Pelican ever to make the team.

Which All-Star guard did the Pelicans acquire from Atlanta in 2024 in a trade built around Dyson Daniels?

Larry Nance Jr., E. J. Liddell, Cody Zeller and picks went to the Hawks.

To which team was the Pelicans' All-Star forward traded in February 2025?

Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and picks came back to New Orleans.

In which city did the Pelicans play two preseason games in October 2025 as part of an NBA x NBL series?

The games were held at Rod Laver Arena.

What is the name of the Pelicans' mascot, whose original design frightened some fans in 2013?

His head was redesigned in February 2014; Hugo the Hornet went back to Charlotte.

What did the Hornets wear on their uniforms during their two seasons in temporary exile?

A special white uniform read 'Oklahoma City' around the number, and a red version was worn on Valentine's Day 2007.

The Pelicans' Mardi Gras 'City' uniforms use which three colours?

The 2020–21 version broke from the theme and was modelled on the city flag.

The 'New Orleans' wordmark on the Pelicans' jerseys is inspired by what?

The Pelicans are one of three NBA teams to wear the city name on both home and road jerseys.

What is the Pelicans' logo of a pelican, a fleur-de-lis and a crescent basketball called?

It appeared on the back neck until the NBA logo took that spot in 2014.

The Pelicans' 2023–24 red 'Statement' uniform carries which two-word nickname for New Orleans?

The city's crescent shape along the Mississippi inspired the name.

Which other franchise shares with the Pelicans the distinction of never reaching a conference finals?

Both trace to the same 1988 expansion team.

Which number, retired for Bobby Phills, did the Pelicans return to circulation after the 2014 records transfer?

Cheick Diallo became the first Pelican to wear it, in 2016–17.

Which coach did the Hornets fire after a 3–6 start in 2009, with GM Jeff Bower taking over on the bench?

Scott had coached the 56-win 2008 team; Monty Williams was hired the following summer.

Which team eliminated the Chris Paul-led Hornets in seven games in the 2008 conference semifinals?

It remains one of only two playoff series the New Orleans franchise has won a round in.

Which company became the Pelicans' jersey patch sponsor in 2023?

Zatarain's, Entergy and Chevron are among the team's other longtime partners.