IND NOP NOP UTA NOP DEN DEN NOP SAC NOP ATL NOP NOP MEM UTA NOP MIN NOP NOP LACHead Coach
Jamahl Mosley
Assistant Coach
Trainer
Founded
2002
City
New Orleans
Arena
Smoothie King Center
G-League
Birmingham Squadron
Governor(s)
Gayle Benson
General Manager
Troy Weaver
| Player | # | POS | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Age | Exp | School | How Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Fears | 0 | G | 6-3 | 190 lbs | Oct 14, 2006 | 19 | 1 | Oklahoma | #7 Pick in 2025 Draft |
| Zion Williamson | 1 | F | 6-6 | 284 lbs | Jul 06, 2000 | 26 | 7 | Duke | #1 Pick in 2019 Draft |
| Herbert Jones | 2 | F | 6-7 | 206 lbs | Oct 06, 1998 | 27 | 5 | Alabama | #35 Pick in 2021 Draft |
| Jordan Poole | 3 | G | 6-4 | 194 lbs | Jun 19, 1999 | 27 | 7 | Michigan | Traded from WAS on 07/06/25 |
| Hunter Dickinson | 4 | C | 7-1 | 255 lbs | Nov 25, 2000 | 25 | 1 | Kansas | Signed on 07/03/25 |
| Dejounte Murray | 5 | G | 6-4 | 180 lbs | Sep 19, 1996 | 29 | 10 | Washington | Traded from ATL on 07/06/24 |
| DeAndre Jordan | 6 | C | 6-11 | 265 lbs | Jul 21, 1988 | 38 | 18 | Texas A&M | Signed on 10/23/25 |
| Christian Koloko | 10 | C | 6-11 | 225 lbs | Jun 20, 2000 | 26 | 4 | Arizona | Signed on 07/28/26 |
| Jaron Pierre Jr. | 10 | G | 6-5 | 210 lbs | Jul 12, 2002 | 24 | R | Southern Methodist | #58 Pick in 2026 Draft |
| Bryce McGowens | 11 | G | 6-6 | 190 lbs | Nov 08, 2002 | 23 | 4 | Nebraska | Signed on 07/30/25 |
| Trendon Watford | 12 | G-F | 6-8 | 245 lbs | Nov 09, 2000 | 25 | 5 | Louisiana State | Signed on 08/17/26 |
| Micah Peavy | 14 | G-F | 6-7 | 215 lbs | Jul 16, 2001 | 25 | 1 | Georgetown | Draft Rights Traded from WAS on 07/06/25 |
| Karlo Matković | 17 | F-C | 6-10 | 231 lbs | Mar 30, 2001 | 25 | 2 | Mega Basket | #52 Pick in 2022 Draft |
| Yves Missi | 21 | C | 6-11 | 235 lbs | May 14, 2004 | 22 | 2 | Baylor | #21 Pick in 2024 Draft |
| Derik Queen | 22 | C | 6-9 | 250 lbs | Dec 27, 2004 | 21 | 1 | Maryland | Draft Rights Traded from ATL on 06/25/25 |
| Jordan Hawkins | 24 | G | 6-5 | 190 lbs | Apr 29, 2002 | 24 | 3 | Connecticut | #14 Pick in 2023 Draft |
| Trey Murphy III | 25 | F | 6-8 | 206 lbs | Jun 18, 2000 | 26 | 5 | Virginia | Draft Rights Traded from MEM on 08/07/21 |
| Caleb Houstan | 33 | G | 6-8 | 205 lbs | Jan 09, 2003 | 23 | 4 | Michigan | Signed on 08/04/26 |
| Saddiq Bey | 41 | G-F | 6-8 | 215 lbs | Apr 09, 1999 | 27 | 6 | Villanova | Traded from WAS on 07/06/25 |
| Kobe Bufkin | 44 | G | 6-4 | 195 lbs | Sep 21, 2003 | 22 | 3 | Michigan | Signed on 07/25/26 |
Total Points
Anthony Davis
11,059
Total Assists
Chris Paul
4,228
Total Rebounds
Anthony Davis
4,905
Total Blocks
Anthony Davis
1,121
Total Steals
Chris Paul
1,010
Championship Wins
None yet
Conference Titles
None yet
Division Titles
2008
The New Orleans Pelicans 2026-27 NBA season as one of the Western Conference's NBA teams that are still looking for their first NBA championship, with their home base in New Orleans and playing in the Southwest Division. The season kicks off with new coaching leadership this year as Jamahl Mosley replaces interim coach James Borrego after he moved to Orlando. The Pelicans also got D'Angelo Russell in a six-team trade and re-signed veteran center DeAndre Jordan.
This guide explores both sides of the issue: what the Pelicans as a franchise are all about and what has been different since the start of 2026-27.
The Pelicans franchise was established in 1988 when the team was known as the Charlotte Hornets, and moved to New Orleans in 2002. Through the decades, the team has become inextricably linked with the overall culture and music scene in New Orleans. The franchise has yet to win him a championship in the NBA, which is what all the time the topic of the Southwest Division all-time contenders comes up fans and analysts make reference to.
An easy list to come up with for the players that are most identified with the franchise's history include Chris Paul (Hornets/Pelicans Era) and Anthony Davis — names that have been a staple to the New Orleans Pelicans brand for years of fans. About the franchise: for context, it's a franchise still trying to add its first NBA banner, so the case of this year's coaching change and D'Angelo Russell addition is being made to sustain the momentum, not to present a finished product.
The New Orleans Pelicans have built a reputation around the city's culture and music, a reputation known throughout the league. That identity can impact trades and free agency decisions by the front office, how the offensive and defensive systems are structured by the coaching staff, and more.
New head coach Jamahl Mosley brings his motion heavy, pace-oriented system from Orlando to 2026-27 where he seeks to capitalize on his athletic core in New Orleans by getting plenty of ball movement and spacing.
National perception of a franchise is also influenced by rivalries. The biggest rivalry for the New Orleans Pelicans is with the Memphis Grizzlies, who also regularly bring a high level of attention to the Pelicans' schedule and are an important date to be part of any Pelicans' fan's calendar.
New Orleans Pelicans 2026-27 will start with a new head coach, Jamahl Mosley, who replaced interim coach James Borrego after they were hired from Orlando. The Pelicans also were part of a six-team trade for D'Angelo Russell and re-signed veteran center DeAndre Jordan. This season is important because New Orleans is trying to find stability and direction after a rough period, and it's expecting to bring some new pieces on board to speed up the process with its young core.
The Pelicans have struggled with injury problems in recent seasons that hindered their top players from performing at their best. The coaching switch and offseason additions are all a part of a front office that's trying to create a more sustainable structure and depth.
What to Watch: With the injury history that the team has just suffered, health and continuity will be as crucial as any rotation change.
Second-Round Pick: Jaron Pierre Jr. (No. 58) Strengths: Athletic wing defender with developing perimeter shot
Pierre Jr. brings a bit of athleticism to the rotation, and is viewed as a piece that will need some development by the new coaching staff.
| Move | Type | Expected Impact |
| D'Angelo Russell (six-team trade) | Trade | Veteran point guard depth |
| DeAndre Jordan | Re-signed | Frontcourt depth and leadership |
| Hunter Dickinson | Free Agent | Interior depth |
Roster-fit analysis: New Orleans gets one of the league's proven ball-handlers with Russell and tries to generate more solid spacing for a group of talented but oftentimes injury-prone cores with Mosley.
Hunter Dickinson, Jaron Pierre Jr., and Bryce McGowens round out the bench.
Zion Williamson Of course health is the biggest swing factor for the outcome of New Orleans' season.
Jamahl Mosley Being a new coach, building an identity and winning culture is of paramount importance.
Zion Williamson will have to prove himself to become any sort of a playoff contender or a season spent in the lottery once more for New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans are a Southwest Division team that plays in one of the most competitive squads in the Western Conference. The playoffs are seeded based on divisional and conference status, home field advantage is awarded based on playoff seeding, and since the addition of the play-in tournament, the team's playoff berth or the need to battle its way through play-in games for the final playoff spot is determined by divisional and conference standings. Just as importantly, it is the Pelicans' divisional record, and not just overall record, that is being tracked, so it gives a much better indication of how the team is doing against the divisional opponents to which it sees the most regular action, and particularly against rival Memphis.
Williamson remains healthy throughout the entire season, Mosley's system opens up the abilities on the roster, and New Orleans earns a play-in team spot.
Injury problems arise and the season rolls on toward the lottery again.
No — health is in question, coaching transition makes New Orleans a longshot in 2026-27, but there's upside in a healthy roster.
An NBA team's trajectory changes with each new season, due to roster changes, coaching style, and injuries. The New Orleans Pelicans' storylines to follow are:
Rosters, coaching staffs and injury lists change throughout the season; any preseason predictions should be viewed as a starting point and the best way to gauge the Pelicans' true form is to pay attention to the live schedule and box scores as the season unfolds.
As with all NBA teams, the New Orleans Pelicans will go through an 82-game regular season and the playoff field will be determined then. That workload is split in half between conference opponents, including some additional games against Southwest Division opponents such as the Memphis Grizzlies, and a rotating series of interconference games. It is a significant day for a franchise with no championship banners, but for a team that's demonstrated some real talent in the league and hasn't always been unified, physical fitness is as important as the win column.
There are identifiable chunks of the season:
Whether you're a fan who hasn't quite gotten into the New Orleans Pelicans in 2026-27, or simply new to the team's history, knowing it is no mere trivia but an integral part of how the team is covered and discussed. If a franchise hasn't picked up any championships, there's a different set of expectations than if the team is trying to maintain a legacy: the fans and front office are looking for consistent, sustainable growth, not short-term pressure for the win. It should be noted that the coaching change and the recent signing of Russell are both viewed as stability-building measures and not as a true team that's ready to compete for a title.
It also helps illustrate why the Memphis Grizzlies plays are so significant for Pelicans supporters in particular — if you're a fan of a division that had a long history of feuds, it's more important for you to watch an injury-heavy matchup than for someone who watched a much shorter history of such rivalries.
Sports OKBet provides a variety of play-in odds and health-dependent award markets for New Orleans and game-by-game odds all season long, the best sports betting site in the Philippines.
The New Orleans Pelicans 2026-27 with new coaching leadership and a new crop of health looking for him to play when the core is still there, while the franchise still hasn't won an NBA title. A play-in push is the realistic ceiling. Keep an eye on New Orleans's season and stay tuned for insights and odds on Sports OKBet.
First formed in 1988 as the Charlotte Hornets before moving to New Orleans in 2002.
The New Orleans Pelicans are an NBA team that hasn't won any championships yet.
The New Orleans Pelicans are based in Smoothie King Center, New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans play in the Southwest Division, Western Conference.
The most memorable rivalry in New Orleans Pelicans history is against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jamahl Mosley, who is a former coach of the Orlando Magic.
New Orleans drafted Jaron Pierre Jr., at No. 58 overall.
A play-in is an option should the roster, especially Zion Williamson, remain healthy.
Zion Williamson's star-level ability when healthy, and a new coaching approach.
Note on sourcing: Historical facts (founded, championships, arena name, rivalry) come from the official NBA franchise guide series by the OKSports Editorial Team and official NBA franchise records. Trade, draft and free agency information for 2026-27 are from NBA.com and Wikipedia's 2026-27 NBA transactions log, as of August 2026. Lineup order, win totals and scenarios are projections based on analytical information.
