Just three franchises remain in our ongoing GOAT pyramid series where we rank the greatest players in all 30 NBA teams’ history by tiers. Today, we have one of the youngest franchises in the NBA to break down for you, the New Orleans Pelicans. The franchise debuted in 2002-03 as the New Orleans Hornets before taking on the Pelicans nickname for good in 2013-14. While their legacy as a franchise is still very much being written, the players who have shaped their path so far are clear.Â
Tier 1
Chris Paul, Anthony Davis
Tier 1 in New Orleans Pelicans history belongs to two franchise icons who were drafted by the franchise right out of college. Chris Paul was the fourth overall pick of the New Orleans Hornets in 2004 where he would spend the first six seasons of his career through 2011. Paul leads the franchise in total assists and total steals and ranks third all-time in points. From 20005 through 2011, he averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game on 47.1% shooting. He would earn four All-Star selections, three All-NBA Team selections, two assists titles, and three steals titles in New Orleans as well as an MVP runner-up season in 2008.
The other franchise legend in New Orleans Pelicans history is their former No. 1 overall pick from 2012, Anthony Davis. In seven seasons with the team, Davis averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game. He would win three individual block titles as well as earning six All-Star selections, three All-NBA Team selections, and three All-Defensive Team selections. He is the Pelicans’ all-time leading scorer with 11,059 points, the leading rebounder with 4,906 rebounds, and the greatest interior defender with 1,121 blocks.
Tier 2
Jrue Holiday, David West, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson
Jrue Holiday kicks off Tier 2 in Pelicans history with seven years of service to the franchise from 2014 through 2020. Holiday averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 415 games with New Orleans, with two All-Defensive Team selections to his name. Holiday ranks fourth all-time in team history with 7,321 points as well as second in assists and third in steals with 2,833 and 638 respectively.
David West became a staple of New Orleans after the Hornets made him their 18th overall pick in 2003. West would spend eight seasons with the team through 2011 where he averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. With New Orleans, West would earn the only two All-Star selections of his career in 2008 and 2009. West ranks second in franchise history in both points and rebounds as well as fourth in steals.
For those who may think it is too early for both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson to be on Tier 2 in New Orleans history, I beg of you to look at their standing in franchise history already. Ingram has been with the Pelicans since 2019-20 where he has been to one All-Star Game and is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Ingram already ranks fifth in franchise history in points and third in assists, well within striking distance of taking the top spot in both categories.
As for Zion Williamson, despite injuries hanging a black cloud over his career thus far, he is also already one of the greatest players in Pelicans history. Williamson ranks sixth in franchise history in points with 4,048 and has already been to two All-Star Games. He is averaging 24.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game on 59.6% shooting.
Tier 3
Baron Davis, Jamal Mash Burn, Tyson Chandler, P. J. Brown, DeMarcus Cousins, Peja Stojakovic
Tier 3 in New Orleans Pelicans history features many players who helped usher in the franchise during its debut seasons. Baron Davis carried over his career from Charlotte to New Orleans with the Hornets from 2003 through 2005. Davis averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in these two-plus seasons while earning one All-Star selection and one All-NBA Third Team selection in 2004.
Jamal Mashburn played the final two seasons of his career with the New Orleans Hornets, also as a player carried over from their days in Charlotte. Mashburn averaged 21.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in 2003 and 2004 with New Orleans, earning the only All-Star and All-NBA Team selections of his career in 2003. Mashburn would blow out his knee and have his career cut short after the 2003-04 season, undoubtedly leaving much more production out there in New Orleans.
Former NBA big man Tyson Chandler spent three seasons with New Orleans from 2007 through 2009. During that time, he averaged 10.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He finished top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice with New Orleans and ranks fifth all-time in franchise history in rebounds as well as fourth in blocks.
P.J. Brown is another member of the original New Orleans Hornets carrying over from Charlotte in 2002-03. Under the New Orleans name, Brown played four seasons, averaging 10.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 47.7% shooting. Brown, a former All-Defensive frontcourt player, was instrumental in New Orleans earning their first playoff appearance in 2002-03 as well as again in 2003-04.
DeMarcus Cousins’ time with the New Orleans Pelicans was short-lived thanks to a career-altering injury but it was dominant nonetheless. Cousins played just 65 career games with the Pelicans, making two All-Star teams and averaging 25.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. The frontcourt of him and Anthony Davus were supposed to take New Orleans over the top as championship contenders but a torn Achilles prevented that from ever coming to fruition.
The final member of Tier 3 is none other than sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic. In five seasons with the team from 2007 through 2011, Stojakovic averaged 14.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 40.4% from three. Stojakovic currently ranks second in team history in three-pointers made with 553.
Tier 4
Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, David Wesley, Jamaal Magloire, Jonas Valanciunas, Emeka Okafor
Ryan Anderson played four seasons with New Orleans from 2013 through 2016 where he became a fan-favorite almost instantly. In four years, Anderson averaged 16.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game with the team, shooting 42.1% from the floor overall. Anderson would help New Orleans make a playoff appearance in 2015 and ranks seventh in franchise history with 3,702 points.
During the early 2010s, Eric Gordon became a member of the New Orleans Pelicans and made his way onto their list of franchise players over the next five seasons. From 2012 through 2016, Gordon averaged 15.3 points on 39.0% shooting from three with New Orleans, making his way to sixth on their franchise’s all-time list in three-pointers made.
After a decent first few seasons in Sacramento, point guard Tyreke Evans made his way to New Orleans where he remained from 2014 through 2017. During this time, Evans averaged 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.8% from the floor. Evans never matched his Rookie of the Year play from when he was with the Kings but was a bright spot for the team during his brief run.
David Wesley officially played just two-plus seasons with New Orleans as another member of the original team that carried over from Charlotte in 2002-03. In these two-plus years with the team, Wesley averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. While Wesley never earned individual accolades with New Orleans, his help in ushering in the new era of basketball in New Orleans can never be understated.
The final member of the original New Orleans team in Tier 4 is former All-Star Jamaal Magloire. As an original New Orleans Hornet, Magloire averaged 11.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in 187 games with the team. He earned the only All-Star selection of his career in New Orleans in 2003-04, averaging 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Jonas Valanciunas has been with the Pelicans since the 2021-22 season and has rapidly become a fan-favorite in New Orleans during that time. In 214 games, Valanciunas has averaged 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game since joining the Pelicans. He ranks ninth in franchise history in both points and blocks while also ranking fourth in total rebounds.
The final member of Tier 4 is four-year New Orleans player, Emeka Okafor. In three-plus seasons with New Orleans, Okafor tapped into his defense and rebounding in order to help them win games. He averaged 9.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in 207 games played with the franchise and is still one of the more underrated players to ever come through their doors and don their colors.
Tier 5
Rasual Butler, Trevor Ariza, Jarrett Jack, Rajon Rondo, CJ McCollum, Willy Hernangomez
Tier 5 in New Orleans Pelicans players seems a bit bland but these six competitors deserve at least mention for their contributions to the franchise. Rasual Butler was an underrated member of the team from 2006 through 2009. He averaged 9.1 points per game with the franchise but was one of their fiercest perimeter defenders at the time. His play off the bench helped them earn a playoff berth in 2009.
Trevor Ariza is a career journeyman who made a two-year stop in New Orleans in 2011 and 2012. During that time, he averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, shooting just 40.4% from the field. Ariza’s defensive presence helped the Pelicans establish a new identity when they so desperately needed one in the early 2010s.
Jarrett Jack played just 117 career games with New Orleans in 2011 and 2012, averaging 11.1 points and 4.0 assists per game in a role mostly off the bench. He helped the team make one playoff appearance in 2011 when they lost to the Lakers in six games. Jack played for 10 teams in his 18-year career but his stop in New Orleans was one of his best in terms of all-around play.
Rajon Rondo also squeaks into Tier 5 for the one season he played in New Orleans in 2017-18. In those 65 games, Rondo averaged 8.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game to help the team win 48 games and advance to the NBA playoffs. He would have a great playoff run with the Pelicans, averaging 10.3 points and 12.2 assists per game, helping the team advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
CJ McCollum has been with the Pelicans since a trade with Portland brought him over during the 2021-22 season. In the two-plus seasons he has been with the team, he has averaged 20.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 45.4% shooting. McCollum has already cracked the franchise’s top 10 in assists with 782 and led them to the playoffs in 2022.
The final member of our New Orleans Pelicans all-time GOAT pyramid is Willy Hernangomez. With the Pelicans for three seasons from 2021 through 2022, Hernangomez served as one of the NBA’s best sparks off the bench during that time. In 135 games, Hernangomez averaged 8.0 points and 6.3 rebounds on 53.7% shooting overall and just 24.2% from three.Â
For reference to our selection process, you can take a look at the previous NBA franchise GOAT Pyramids below.Â
– The Denver Nuggets All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Orlando Magic All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Indiana Pacers All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Oklahoma City Thunder All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Minnesota Timberwolves All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Washington Wizards All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Utah Jazz All-Time Goat Pyramid
– The Portland Trail Blazers All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Toronto Raptors All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Atlanta Hawks All-Time GOAT Pyramid
