Who are the best Pelicans players of all time? The franchise history of the New Orleans Pelicans has been one of the most interesting in the NBA. The Charlotte Hornets for years, the team moved to New Orleans prior to the 2002-03 season, retaining the Hornets name.
For 12 seasons, basketball in New Orleans remained under the Hornets name. Beginning in 2013, the New Orleans Pelicans franchise was born. Though the Pelicans franchise will be remembered as the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets to some (the Charlotte Hornets did return, by the way), the Pelicans franchise is one of the most exciting young teams in the league.
There is a lot of ground to cover even if the New Orleans Pelicans franchise has been around for a short time. Without further ado, let’s look at the best players in New Orleans Pelicans franchise history, one of the staples of Louisiana sports.
The Best Pelicans Players of All Time
Who is the best player in New Orleans Pelicans team history? Quick note: this list is only from the time the team moved and became the New Orleans Hornets. Charlotte players won’t count. Here is the shortlist in contention for the best Pelicans player in franchise history:
Honorable mention: Rajon Rondo, Emeka Okafor
- Chris Paul
- Anthony Davis
- Jrue Holiday
- David West
- Brandon Ingram
- Zion Williamson
- PJ Brown
- Tyson Chandler
- Demarcus Cousins
- Eric Gordon
1.) Chris Paul
The Chris Paul era was something else. He is arguably the greatest player of two separate franchises (Los Angeles Clippers), so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s on top here. It was close between Paul and Anthony Davis for the top spot on this list, but this is certainly a strong pick.
The point guard put himself and the team on the map in 2008, a season where he averaged 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, and 2.7 steals per game while shooting the lights out. The following season, Paul was just as incredible even though the Hornets couldn’t find a way to win much.
Paul is the franchise leader in steals and assists. If anything, that just shows how great of a two-way player Paul was during the height of his career. He would make four All-Star teams during his time as a Hornet. Even bigger, he earned an All-NBA First Team and Second Team appearance once each before ultimately being traded to the Clippers in a package that included Eric Gordon (10th on the list).
2.) Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is at the top of this list for some. Given that he is the franchise leader with 11,059 points, 1,121 blocks, and 4,906 total rebounds, one would be hard-pressed to argue against it. His legacy will be tainted by a disappointing 2018-19 season and his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
During his time with the Pelicans, Davis was an absolute force. Year after year, he was one of the best big men in the entire league. Unfortunately, the team around him just wasn’t there and the Pelicans never achieved much in the way of success.
If anything, Davis serves as a cautionary tale. Teams that struggle to put talent around their star players run the risk of losing them and that is what happened with Davis. That said, it is hard to find almost anyone who did it better during their time with the Pelicans than Davis.
3.) Jrue Holiday
Holiday is currently in pursuit of an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, but there was once a time when he was a force for the Pelicans. His seven years with the franchise helped establish Holiday as one of the best at the point guard position in the NBA.
Holiday would go on to win his first title with the Milwaukee Bucks while also earning a place on the NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team the past four seasons. The point guard has become the definition of a lockdown defender and a crucial part of any team that he plays with.
Pelicans fans are no doubt happy to see him thriving well into his 30s. For the better part of a decade, Holiday was a bright young star each season even if things weren’t going well. The one big wish of fans is that he could have found a way to win while still in New Orleans.
4.) David West
For eight years, David West was one of the best players for the New Orleans franchise. The two-time NBA All-Star (2008, 2009) came in with a ton of hype as the 18th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft (one of the most loaded drafts in history).
He and Chris Paul had memorable chemistry and it all came together starting with the 2005-06 season. West emerged as one of the better midrange scorers in the league. During his eight years with the franchise, he averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. More importantly, he is second in team history in points, scoring 8,690 while playing eight seasons.
As others continue to rise up the list, West will no doubt start to slide a bit. That said, he should be remembered for his contributions to the franchise, particularly in the very first days after relocating to New Orleans. West is also a crucial part of Paul’s legacy as a Hornet.
5.) Brandon Ingram
Ingram was acquired in the Anthony Davis trade in 2019 and has made a strong impact for the team since. Each season, he has proven to be one of the best wings in the NBA at creating shots, averaging 23.7 points during his four seasons with the team.
At 25 years old, Ingram is playing his best basketball and still has room to grow but he is already one of the best Pelicans players of all time. His game is the kind that is at a premium in today’s NBA, and the Pelicans will be better overall because of it. Though he may not be the name most pay attention to, Ingram may be the heart of the Pelicans.
There is still a lot of time left for Ingram to climb the list. He’s already well outpacing Zion in games played – 109 more despite joining the team in the same season – and his presence as a consistent scorer can’t be ignored.
6.) Zion Williamson
Zion is only 23 years old and has had a tough run because of injuries. His rookie season was one of the most hyped in NBA history, setting expectations at a perhaps unfair level. The first overall pick in 2019 came into the league with all the potential in the world.
His rookie year, Zion made the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He made an All-Star appearance as a sophomore, the first of two. At his peak, Williamson is one of the most exciting players in basketball and has the team looking like one of the best young groups out there.
This past season was marked by his return from injury, helping lead the team to the playoffs. His season was ultimately cut short in his playoff debut due to an injury in the final minutes of the contest. The sky is the limit for Zion, and many expect him to top this list when all is said and done.
7.) PJ Brown
PJ Brown was in the twilight of his career, one in which he had made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times, by the time he joined the franchise. Brown wasn’t the most dynamic guy but made his presence felt by being one of the better defensive players in the NBA.
When the franchise moved to New Orleans, Brown was a critical part of a team that finished with 47 wins and became one of the best defensive teams in basketball. Though he may not be the flashiest name on the list, PJ Brown was crucial during those first seasons after relocation.
Some may argue that Chandler’s impact was bigger, but it was much shorter than Brown’s tenure. The forward played 999 games for the franchise and became one of the most respected players in the league at that time, winning the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2004.
8.) Tyson Chandler
Though Chandler played just three seasons with the Hornets, his impact was definitely felt. Though his best years would come as a member of the New York Knicks, Chandler became one of the best defensive players in basketball during his time with the franchise.
Chandler played from 2006-2009 for the Hornets, leading the team in rebounds per game in his first season and in minutes per game during his second. His best season was 2007-08, when he led the team in games played with 79 while putting up a career-best 11.8 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game (the second-best of his career).
He would go on to bigger and better, even winning an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. Chandler will be most remembered for being the heart of a top 10 NBA defense when the Hornets won 56 games in 2007-08, running one of the best pick-and-roll games in the league.
9.) Demarcus Cousins
Boogie might be the most talented player in New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans history and one of the best Pelicans players of all time. In his best season (before an Achilles injury), Boogie was scoring 25.2 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game, and 5.4 assists per game. Peak Cousins would be a force in today’s NBA if he could remain healthy.
Cousins played just one season with the Pelicans. His presence as a strong defensive player and dominant post presence left the fans feeling like they had found a diamond in the rough after his seven seasons with the Sacramento Kings.
Unfortunately, the former first-round pick went to the Golden State Warriors the next year in hopes of winning an NBA Championship (they lost to the Toronto Raptors). If he hung around, there is little doubt that Cousins would be higher on the list of the greatest New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans ever.
10.) Eric Gordon
Gordon spent five seasons with the team from 2011-2016. He was part of the last Hornets teams before the franchise was revived in Charlotte. Gordon was a good player during his time with the Hornets/Pelicans, a solid presence, and future NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
More importantly, Gordon was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers for Chris Paul, ending the Chris Paul era for the Hornets. That is a big legacy and stepping into a top spot with the franchise may have been too much to ask for.
Gordon battled injuries over his six seasons with the Hornets/Pelicans. He was part of the first playoff season in Pelicans franchise history so that no doubt endears him in the minds and hearts of fans.
The Legacy and Impact of the Best New Orleans Pelicans Ever
The one major knock on the top New Orleans Pelicans players is that many of them played or are playing elsewhere and made an equally big impact.
Anthony Davis is more known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, for instance than his time with New Orleans. Likewise, Demarcus Cousins is more known for his time with the Sacramento Kings, and so on.
If anything, the history of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans franchise will be asked with a two-word question: “What if?” The team has been good at times, but it feels like a good season is an aberration.
Hopefully, this new batch led by Zion can be the one to lead the team to NBA Championship glory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is considered the best player in Pelicans history?
There is some debate on the matter. Is it Anthony Davis or Chris Paul? The debate will rage on, but both had a significant impact on the New Orleans Pelicans franchise. Their best seasons will go down in franchise history and there were a few years where they were playing some of the best basketball in the NBA.
Chris Paul gets the nod for now because he is the franchise leader in assists and steals in just six seasons. The Hornets/Pelicans were one of the most fun teams to watch during his time there and his best season would stack up with any other seasons in in the team’s history.
What are the criteria for ranking the best Pelicans players of all time?
Ranking the best Pelicans players of all time comes down to a few things. All-Star appearances, games played, wins, scoring, rebounds, assists, and how remembered they are by fans are how each Pelicans player makes the cut.
Which current players have the potential to make this list in the future?
Though his career is still in its early stages, Brandon Ingram should be higher on this list someday. He has been one of the best players since joining the team in 2019. The former first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers was a first-time NBA All-Star in 2020 when he also won the NBA Most Improved Player.
For future players, CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are the best guys on the team right now. They were key components to helping the team make the playoffs, though they were eliminated in the first round.
How have the Pelicans’ best players impacted the team’s overall success?
Players like Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, Brandom Ingram, Tyson Chandler, David West, Demarcus Cousins, Emeka Okafor, Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson, Rajon Rondo, David Wesley, and Tyreke Evans have all contributed to the franchise, and the limited success there has been in its history.
Whether it be appearances in the playoffs or simply thrilling the fans, New Orleans basketball wouldn’t be the same without each of the best Pelicans players of all time.
There is a lot left for this team and franchise history will be made in bigger ways. Since sports betting is now legal in Louisiana, check ClutchBuzz for the best Pelicans odds in the NBA futures.
