New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Hornets opened their inaugural season in New Orleans on the 30th of October 2002. This game marked the return of professional basketball to the city after a 17-year absence since the Utah Jazz departed for Salt Lake City in 1979. The franchise had been relocated from Charlotte by owner George Shinn following years of declining attendance and legal troubles involving sexual assault allegations against him. Shinn had threatened to move the team to Norfolk, Louisville, or St. Louis unless the city built a new arena at no cost to him. The city council refused to remove the statement that they would not build an arena without Shinn selling the team. This pressure led the Hornets to request a move to New Orleans. The NBA approved the move before the Hornets were eliminated from the playoffs. As part of the deal, the league promised Charlotte would get a new team two years later as the Charlotte Bobcats.
Chris Paul was selected fourth overall by the Hornets out of Wake Forest University in the 2005 NBA draft. Hurricane Katrina forced the franchise to temporarily relocate its base of operations to Oklahoma City during the 2005, 06 and 2006, 07 seasons. During this time, most home games were played at the Ford Center while some remained at the New Orleans Arena. The team posted records of 38, 44 and 39, 43 respectively under the name New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. After returning full-time for the 2007, 08 season, the Hornets achieved their best record ever with 56 wins and 26 losses. They won their first division title by claiming the Southwest Division crown. The team clinched the second overall seed for the Western Conference but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games during the conference semifinals. In December 2010, the NBA purchased the Hornets from George Shinn for an estimated $300 million. Before the 2011, 12 season, Paul requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles. On the 14th of December 2011, the Hornets agreed to send him to the Los Angeles Clippers.
New owner Tom Benson announced on the 13th of April 2012 that he had purchased the franchise from the NBA for $338 million. He indicated early in his ownership that he wished to change the team's name to something more local. Benson considered names like Brass and Krewe before settling on Pelicans inspired by Louisiana's state bird. On the 24th of January 2013, officials held a press conference where they unveiled new logos and a navy blue-gold-red color scheme. The name Pelicans previously belonged to a minor-league baseball team active from 1901 to 1957. Following the abandonment of the Hornets name, Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan submitted an application to change his franchise back to the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA unanimously approved this change starting with the 2014, 15 season. The league also decided to transfer records and statistics of the original Hornets (1988, 2002) to the current Charlotte franchise. This unified all of Charlotte's NBA history under one banner while New Orleans retained records since their 2002 move.
The Hornets were awarded the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft on the 30th of May 2012. They subsequently drafted Anthony Davis who became the focal point of the team for many years. Some people believed David Stern rigged the draft lottery citing a picture of Davis in a Hornets hat as evidence. The team also selected Austin Rivers with the tenth pick acquired from the Clippers. In June 2013, during the 2013 NBA draft, the Pelicans selected Nerlens Noel sixth overall. They traded him along with a protected first-round pick for All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday. On the 20th of February 2017, the Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins in a trade with the Sacramento Kings. They sent Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and two future picks in exchange for Cousins and Omri Casspi. On the 15th of January 2019, Davis demanded a trade from the franchise and was fined for publicly announcing his request. On the 6th of July 2019, the Pelicans agreed to trade Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers sent Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks including the fourth overall pick in return.
On the 20th of June 2019, the Pelicans selected Zion Williamson with the first overall pick. He made his debut on the 22nd of January 2020 scoring 22 points in 18 minutes of play after missing the start due to knee surgery. During February 2020, Williamson averaged 25.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He was named NBA Rookie of the Month for that month. Brandon Ingram had a breakout season during 2019, 20 averaging 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. Ingram scored a career-high 49 points in an overtime win against the Utah Jazz on the 16th of January 2020. He became an NBA All-Star for the first time and won the Most Improved Player award. In the 2021, 22 season, Williamson played 70 games before getting injured in a loss to the Lakers. The team finished 49 wins and 33 losses advancing to the playoffs where they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Originally the New Orleans Hornets wore teal and white uniforms with purple and gold added as trim colors. In 2008, the Hornets received new logos featuring lettering inspired by wrought iron designs of the city. Teal was replaced with creole blue and pinstripes were added to the uniform. During their two-year residency in Oklahoma City, the Hornets wore modified white uniforms with a teal hexagon patch bearing OKC inside. On the 1st of August 2013, the Pelicans released new uniforms with the wordmark inspired by French Quarter street signs. The partial logo appeared on the sides of shorts while the Bird-de-Lis mark sat on the back neck. On the 17th of September 2015, the Pelicans unveiled a new alternate uniform part of the Pride series featuring Mardi Gras signature colors. The tops were purple with green accents and sported NOLA across the chest in gold letters trimmed in green. For the 2020, 21 season, the City uniform deviated from the Mardi Gras theme and was modeled after the New Orleans city flag.
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Common questions
When did the New Orleans Hornets open their inaugural season in New Orleans?
The New Orleans Hornets opened their inaugural season on the 30th of October 2002. This game marked the return of professional basketball to the city after a 17-year absence since the Utah Jazz departed for Salt Lake City in 1979.
Why was the team renamed from the New Orleans Hornets to the Pelicans?
New owner Tom Benson announced on the 13th of April 2012 that he wished to change the team's name to something more local. He settled on Pelicans inspired by Louisiana's state bird and officials unveiled new logos on the 24th of January 2013.
Who did the New Orleans Pelicans select with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft?
On the 20th of June 2019, the Pelicans selected Zion Williamson with the first overall pick. He made his debut on the 22nd of January 2020 scoring 22 points in 18 minutes of play after missing the start due to knee surgery.
What happened to the Charlotte Bobcats franchise after the New Orleans Hornets became the Pelicans?
Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan submitted an application to change his franchise back to the Charlotte Hornets following the abandonment of the Hornets name. The NBA unanimously approved this change starting with the 2014, 15 season and transferred records of the original Hornets to the current Charlotte franchise.
When did the New Orleans Pelicans acquire DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings?
On the 20th of February 2017, the Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins in a trade with the Sacramento Kings. They sent Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and two future picks in exchange for Cousins and Omri Casspi.