The New Orleans Pelicans are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise began play during the 2002–03 NBA season as the New Orleans Hornets following the relocation of the Charlotte Hornets, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. After three seasons in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina forced the franchise to temporarily relocate to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where they spent two seasons as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. The Hornets returned to New Orleans full-time for the 2007–08 season. The team changed its name to the New Orleans Pelicans at the conclusion of the 2012–13 season.

Led by All-Star Baron Davis, the New Orleans Hornets qualified for their first post-season appearance during the 2002–03 season. They lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The team earned their first division title during the 2007–08 season, behind the play of All-Stars Chris Paul and David West. Finishing with a franchise-best record of 56 wins and 26 losses, the Hornets won the Southwest Division title over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. They advanced to the conference semifinals, where they were defeated by the Spurs in seven games.

In 20 seasons, the Pelicans have compiled an overall record of 740–864 all-time. They have qualified the playoffs eight times, winning two series, and posted seven seasons of 41 wins or more.[1]

Seasons

League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth Play-in berth
Season Team League Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head Coach
New Orleans Hornets
2002–03 2002–03 NBA Eastern 5th Central 3rd 47 35 .573 3 Lost first round (76ers) 4–2 Paul Silas
2003–04 2003–04 NBA Eastern 5th Central 3rd 41 41 .500 20 Lost first round (Heat) 4–3 P.J. Brown (SPOR) Tim Floyd
2004–05 2004–05 NBA Western 15th Southwest 5th 18 64 .220 41 Byron Scott
2005–06 2005–06[A] NBA Western 10th Southwest 4th 38 44 .463 25 Chris Paul (ROY)
2006–07 2006–07[A] NBA Western 10th Southwest 4th 39 43 .476 28
2007–08 2007–08 NBA Western 2nd Southwest 1st 56 26 .683 – Won first round (Mavericks) 4–1
Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–3 		Byron Scott (COY)
2008–09 2008–09 NBA Western 7th Southwest 4th 49 33 .598 5 Lost first round (Nuggets) 4–1
2009–10 2009–10 NBA Western 11th Southwest 5th 37 45 .451 18 Byron Scott
Jeff Bower
2010–11 2010–11 NBA Western 7th Southwest 3rd 46 36 .561 15 Lost first round (Lakers) 4–2 Monty Williams
2011–12 2011–12[B] NBA Western 15th Southwest 5th 21 45 .318 29
2012–13 2012–13 NBA Western 14th Southwest 5th 27 55 .329 31
New Orleans Pelicans
2013–14 2013–14 NBA Western 12th Southwest 5th 34 48 .415 28 Monty Williams
2014–15 2014–15 NBA Western 8th Southwest 5th 45 37 .549 11 Lost first round (Warriors) 4–0
2015–16 2015–16 NBA Western 12th Southwest 5th 30 52 .366 37 Alvin Gentry
2016–17 2016–17 NBA Western 10th Southwest 4th 34 48 .415 27 Anthony Davis (ASG MVP)
2017–18 2017–18 NBA Western 6th Southwest 2nd 48 34 .585 17 Won first round (Trail Blazers) 4–0
Lost conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–1
2018–19 2018–19 NBA Western 13th Southwest 4th 33 49 .402 20
2019–20 2019–20 NBA Western 13th Southwest 5th 30 42 .417 14 Brandon Ingram (MIP)
2020–21 2020–21 NBA Western 11th Southwest 4th 31 41 .431 11 Stan Van Gundy
2021–22 2021–22 NBA Western 8th[C] Southwest 3rd 36 46 .439 20 Lost first round (Suns) 4–2 Willie Green
2022–23 2022–23 NBA Western 9th Southwest 2nd 42 40 .512 11

All-time records

Statistic Wins Losses Win%
All-time regular season record 782 904 .464
All-time post-season record 22 33 .400
All-time regular and post-season record 804 937 .462

Note: statistics are correct as of April 12, 2023

Notes

References

  1. ^ "New Orleans Pelicans franchise page". Basketball Reference.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  2. ^ 2005–06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets season
  3. ^ "NBPA History". National Basketball Player's Association. Archived from the original on October 25, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Play-In Game: New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, April 15, 2022". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
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