New Orleans Pelicans Articles - Page 3

A reshaped roster, an early-season coaching change, and a fan base impatient for tangible progress have created an unforgiving environment, particularly for a rookie still learning the ropes. However, according to James Borrego, Derik Queen is tuning out the static to become the next face of the New Orleans Pelicans. Selecting Queen 13th overall in […]

There are certain traits NBA coaches will tell you cannot be manufactured in a gym or taught on a whiteboard. When the new-look New Orleans Pelicans drafted Jeremiah Fears, the scouting reports spoke of speed, burst, and fearless downhill attacking. Just a few months into his NBA career, however, the internal comparisons have accelerated into […]

The final buzzer of 2025 sounded for the New Orleans Pelicans with a familiar result. A loss to the Chicago Bulls dropped interim coach James Borrego’s bunch to a daunting 8-27 entering 2026. However, the easy narrative of a last-place team, of a season slipping away, would not be accurate. Within the walls of the […]

The New Orleans Pelicans came into the matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Although things weren’t looking so good on that front midway through the fourth quarter, Pelicans star Zion Williamson was doing his part to get a win as he dominated the paint. BULLY BALL! Zion […]

Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green weighed in on the fight between Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams, and New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado, with an intriguing take on the matter. Alvarado received a two-game suspension, and Williams received a one-game suspension. Green rarely shines away from on-court drama, which is why he was shocked to […]

With the New Orleans Pelicans displaying their losing ways, with the team being at the very bottom of the Western Conference, it will automatically lead to speculation that they could be sellers come the trade deadline in February. Though maybe with the Pelicans looking ahead to turn around and get into the 2026 NBA Playoffs, […]

As the calendar flips toward the new year, the busted-up New Orleans Pelicans find themselves once again scraping for relevance in the Western Conference standings. Sporting a dismal 8-26 record going into a New Year’s Eve date with the Chicago Bulls, Zion Williamson and Derik Queen are languishing in last place. Still, the locker room […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are enduring another difficult season, sitting at a dismal 8-26 after a recent loss to the New York Knicks. For most teams in such dire straits, the news would be one of dysfunction, finger-pointing, and an inevitable rebuild. However, interim head coach James Borrego sees a young squad on the verge […]

The New Orleans Pelicans may have fallen short against the New York Knicks. However, Zion Williamson’s return to the starting lineup offered a glimpse of hope for a franchise desperately seeking consistency and direction. After a stint coming off the bench, Williamson reclaimed his spot in the starting five, playing extended minutes without restrictions. While […]

For all the defensive progress Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans believe they are making heading toward 2026, one issue continues to undermine their climb. In the eyes of James Borrego, defensive rebounding is no longer a secondary concern or a situational weakness. It is the defining variable separating a respectable team from a potentially competitive […]

The blueprint for defending Trey Murphy III used to be simple, if daunting. Find the 2021 first-round pick in transition, stick to him in the half-court, and under no circumstances let the 6-foot-8 flamethrower see a clean look from beyond the arc. This season, and particularly with James Borrego at the helm of the upstart […]

The NBA has made an official decision following the altercation between New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams on Saturday night. Alvarado and Williams fought each other during the third quarter of the contest. Williams did a shove motion on Alvarado’s back, which led to the latter to start throwing […]

The Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans met with playoff-level emotion and it boiled over fast. In a heated Western conference clash, Mark Williams and Jose Alvarado were both ejected after an altercation that flipped the arena energy late in the third quarter. It started with contact on a screen. Tempers rose. Words followed. Then […]

As the New Orleans Pelicans (8–23) prepare to open a three-game homestand with back-to-back games beginning Friday night, the team listed guard Jordan Poole as questionable on its latest injury report ahead of the matchup against the Phoenix Suns (16-13). The Pelicans announced that Poole is dealing with left ankle soreness and will be evaluated […]

ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne poured cold water on speculation linking the Los Angeles Lakers to Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, suggesting that New Orleans is unlikely to move either forward ahead of the trade deadline without an overwhelming return. Speaking on the latest episode of Mason & Ireland, Shelburne explained that despite persistent league […]

Just last week, the New Orleans Pelicans had the worst record in the NBA. After racking up five straight wins, the Pelicans are now 8-22 and sit in 13th place in the Western Conference. The Pelicans found a spark and have played some great basketball over the last week. New Orleans defeated the Blazers, Bulls, […]

Zion Williamson, on the 14th of December, returned to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup early after initially being projected to miss more time due to an adductor injury. Williamson, however, returned to an unfamiliar role coming off the Pelicans bench — with interim head coach James Borrego opting to keep Saddiq Bey, who’s been good […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are finally showing authentic signs of life despite their difficult 8–22 record. Zion Williamson and his teammates extended their current winning streak to five games on Monday night. The team looks rejuvenated after a notably slow start to the regular season. A significant factor in this recent turnaround has been the […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are suddenly on a roll like fried shrimp on a po’ boy sandwich. They claimed their fifth straight win on Monday after beating the Dallas Mavericks, 119-113, at Smoothie King Center. After a seesaw battle, the Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson, pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mavericks, 40-26. […]

After a nightmare start to the 2025-26 season, hope is growing by the day for the young New Orleans Pelicans. Their young core is taking flight under the tutelage of interim head coach James Borrego, and they are filling up the win column in a hurry. On Monday night, the Pelicans won yet another game, […]

New Orleans Pelicans fans didn’t hesitate to boo Anthony Davis during their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Davis used to represent the Pelicans for seven seasons from 2012 to 2019, having been their top overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Throughout 466 games, he averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, […]

The New Orleans Pelicans put their four-game winning streak on the line on Monday as they hosted the Dallas Mavericks at Smoothie King Center. Buoyed by the home crowd, the Pelicans had a strong start, punctuated by the beautiful connection between Zion Williamson and Karlo Matkovic. After a defensive stop, Williamson brought down the ball. […]

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones was unable to finish Saturday night’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers after suffering a head injury, forcing the team to adjust on the fly despite cruising to a comfortable 128-109 win. Jones was ruled out for the remainder of the contest after taking an accidental hit to the face […]

Derik Queen showed off his solid on-court chemistry with Zion Williamson during the New Orleans Pelicans’ matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. Queen is making strides in his rookie campaign while Williamson is progressing through the seventh season of his career. They are developing a solid connection as they have been a bright […]

The Golden State Warriors are not where they envisioned would be with over a third of the season having already gone. They are currently sitting in 9th place in the Western Conference standings with a substandard 13-15 record, and their team is looking like a shell of the one that defeated the Houston Rockets in […]

Outside of the Smoothie King Center, two-time All-Star Zion Williamson dominates the headlines alongside rookie Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Inside league circles and the rejuvenated New Orleans Pelicans practice facility, even interim head coach James Borrego concedes Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III’s voices are what cut through all the noise. However, the two […]

James Borrego’s New Orleans Pelicans are experimenting with an unconventional approach to managing a years-long headache, and the early returns suggest it might be working. Zion Williamson, the former number one overall pick and two-time All-Star, has recently shifted into a sixth man role coming off the bench. The move has been accepted as less a […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are finally finding their rhythm, capping off a pivotal stretch with a three-game winning streak that has injected new life into the team. Victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, and Houston Rockets mark the franchise’s first such run this season, arriving precisely at the one-month anniversary of interim head […]

Herb Jones accomplished a franchise feat Chris Paul last pulled off in the New Orleans Pelicans’ matchup against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. Jones is going through the fifth season of his NBA career, all with the Pelicans. He’s developed into a solid two-way player for the team, especially on the defensive side of […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are focused less on the standings and more on a set of standards going into the holidays. Zion Williamson and Derik Queen are starting to click, leading to a three-game winning streak in the process. However, while the climb from the Western Conference cellar to the Play-In tournament is steep, James […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have needed good news beyond rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, and thankfully for their fans, got a couple of mood-boosting wins before Christmas. James Borrego reflected on the significance of the victories in the context of the team’s ongoing efforts to establish a strong foundation around Zion Williamson. While victories […]

Rookies often face a steep learning curve, but the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans might have found the most keeled ‘kid’ in the 2025 NBA Draft. James Borrego’s assessments of Jeremiah Fears after 27 games sound less like a coach managing a developmental curve and more like one describing a player already comfortable with responsibility. Fears, […]

The Chicago Bulls’ offense is quite impressive. They have loads of playmakers and 3-point shooters on the roster. However, they won’t be able to get to the next level as the defense currently stands. Chicago is 26th in opponents’ points per game (121.9). They lack both perimeter and interior defenders, and it will likely take […]

The numbers are ugly, the film is worse, and the results are sinking a season of promise. Zion Williamson’s prideful New Orleans Pelicans know their defense has been a glaring, season-long vulnerability, a leaky dam threatening to wash away any NBA Play-In Tournament aspirations. Herb Jones can only do so much alone. Thankfully, interim head […]

The New Orleans Pelicans face a delicate balancing act as they welcome back key players from injury, with interim head coach James Borrego making it clear that the team won’t rush anyone into uncomfortable rotations. Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson’s reintegrations are prime examples of the new training philosophy, though fans can also look to […]

As NBA trade rumors continue to intensify ahead of the February deadline, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly not the only Western Conference team monitoring the availability of New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, league executives believe Murphy has drawn interest from multiple teams across the conference, even […]

To the surprise of many, the Detroit Pistons are atop the Eastern Conference standings. This comes just two years after they tied the record for consecutive losses. The Pistons have the talent to get into the NBA Finals, and if there is a year to go all in, it is this year. Injuries are preventing […]

Zion Williamson’s career has been incredibly frustrating for fans to follow. The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson was drafted with the potential to be an all-time great. His explosive athleticism, finishing prowess, and fluidity in motion made him a can’t-miss prospect, and the New Orleans Pelicans banked on his talents by […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have been a trainwreck so far on the 2025-26 NBA season, currently sitting at 5-22 despite a recent road win over the Chicago Bulls. The Pelicans were not expected to be a contender coming into this season, but few could have envisioned the team being this atrocious, especially considering they do […]