The New Orleans Pelicans are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans. 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, 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 postseason appearance during the 2002–03 season. They lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The team earned its 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 24 seasons, the Pelicans have compiled an overall record of 878-1054 all-time. They have qualified the playoffs nine times, winning two series, and posted nine seasons of 41 wins or more.
Seasons League champions Conference championsDivision championsPlayoff berthPlay-in berth
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceFinishDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%GBPlayoffsAwardsHead Coach New Orleans Hornets2002–032002–03NBAEastern5th Central3rd4735.5733 Lost first round (76ers) 4–2 Paul Silas2003–042003–04NBAEastern5thCentral3rd4141.50020 Lost first round (Heat) 4–3P.J. Brown (SPOR)Tim Floyd2004–052004–05NBAWestern15th Southwest5th1864.22041 Byron Scott2005–062005–06NBAWestern10thSouthwest4th3844.46325Chris Paul (ROY)2006–072006–07NBAWestern10thSouthwest4th3943.476282007–082007–08NBAWestern2ndSouthwest1st5626.683– Won first round (Mavericks) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–3Byron Scott (COY)2008–092008–09NBAWestern7thSouthwest4th4933.5985 Lost first round (Nuggets) 4–12009–102009–10NBAWestern11thSouthwest5th3745.45118Byron ScottJeff Bower2010–112010–11NBAWestern7thSouthwest3rd4636.56115 Lost first round (Lakers) 4–2 Monty Williams2011–122011–12NBAWestern15thSouthwest5th2145.31829 2012–132012–13NBAWestern14thSouthwest5th275531 New Orleans Pelicans2013–142013–14NBAWestern12thSouthwest5th344828 Monty Williams2014–152014–15NBAWestern8thSouthwest5th453711 Lost first round (Warriors) 4–02015–162015–16NBAWestern12thSouthwest5th305237 Alvin Gentry2016–172016–17NBAWestern10thSouthwest4th344827 Anthony Davis (ASG MVP)2017–182017–18NBAWestern6thSouthwest2nd483417 Won first round (Trail Blazers) 4–0Lost conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–12018–192018–19NBAWestern13thSouthwest4th3349202019–202019–20NBAWestern13thSouthwest5th304214 Brandon Ingram (MIP)2020–212020–21NBAWestern11thSouthwest4th314111Stan Van Gundy2021–222021–22NBAWestern9thSouthwest3rd364620 Lost first round (Suns) 4–2 Willie Green2022–232022–23NBAWestern9thSouthwest2nd4240112023–242023–24NBAWestern7thSouthwest2nd49331 Lost first round (Thunder) 4–0 CJ McCollum (JWKC)2024–252024–25NBAWestern14thSouthwest5th216131 2025–262025–26NBAWestern11thSouthwest3rd265636 Willie GreenJames Borrego
All-time records Statistics are correct as of the conclusion of the 2025–26 NBA season. StatisticWinsLossesW–L%All-time regular season record8781,054All-time postseason record2237All-time regular and postseason record9001,091
Notes Due to the catastrophic devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina upon the communities of southeastern Louisiana, the Hornets franchise temporarily relocated their base of operations to Oklahoma City in 2005–06 and 2006–07. During this time, the franchise was known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Due to a lockout, the 2011–12 season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule. Earned 8th seed after beating the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA play-in tournament. Fell to the 8th seed after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA play-in tournament.
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