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NBA History > Hornets Histrory >
History of the New Orleans Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets existed from 2002 through 2013, serving as the bridge between the Charlotte Hornets and today's New Orleans Pelicans. After relocating from Charlotte in 2002, the franchise quickly became a competitive team built around elite point guard Chris Paul. Despite overcoming the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, temporary relocation, ownership changes, and financial uncertainty, the Hornets developed into one of the Western Conference's top teams before adopting the Pelicans name in 2013. Although the Hornets never reached the NBA Finals, they laid the foundation for professional basketball in modern-day New Orleans.
Relocating to New Orleans
The franchise began life as the Charlotte Hornets, which entered the NBA as an expansion team in 1988.
Following declining attendance and disputes over a new arena, owner George Shinn relocated the franchise to New Orleans before the 2002–03 season.
The move marked the return of permanent NBA basketball to New Orleans for the first time since the Jazz relocated to Utah in 1979.
The Hornets played their home games at the New Orleans Arena, now known as the Smoothie King Center.
A Strong Beginning
The Hornets immediately became competitive in their new home.
Led by veterans:
- Baron Davis
- Jamal Mashburn
- P.J. Brown
- David Wesley
New Orleans finished 47–35 during its inaugural season and qualified for the NBA Playoffs.
Although the team lost in the opening round, the franchise had successfully established itself in Louisiana.
Ownership Changes
During the early New Orleans years, George Shinn remained the franchise's majority owner.
However, financial challenges and declining attendance created uncertainty regarding the team's long-term future. Those concerns would grow following one of the greatest natural disasters in American history.
Hurricane Katrina
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.
The city suffered catastrophic flooding, and the Hornets were forced to relocate temporarily.
For the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, the team played most of its home games in Oklahoma City while also hosting a limited number of games in New Orleans.
During those two years, the franchise officially became known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.
The organization played an important role in helping the city's recovery, eventually returning full-time to New Orleans for the 2007–08 season.
Drafting Chris Paul
One of the most significant moments in franchise history occurred during the 2005 NBA Draft.
Holding the fourth overall pick, the Hornets selected Chris Paul out of Wake Forest.
Paul immediately emerged as one of the NBA's premier point guards. His combination of leadership, elite passing, scoring, and defense transformed New Orleans into one of the league's rising contenders.
The Best Season in Franchise History
The 2007–08 season remains one of the greatest in franchise history.
Led by:
- Chris Paul
- David West
- Tyson Chandler
- Peja Stojaković
The Hornets won a franchise-record 56 games while capturing the Southwest Division Championship.
Chris Paul averaged:
- 21.1 points per game
- 11.6 assists per game
- 2.7 steals per game
He finished second in the NBA MVP voting behind Kobe Bryant.
New Orleans advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals, where it pushed the defending champion San Antonio Spurs to seven games before being eliminated.
Competitive Years
The Hornets remained playoff contenders over the next several seasons.
Key contributors included:
- Emeka Okafor
- Trevor Ariza
- David West
- Marco Belinelli
Despite solid regular seasons, injuries and roster limitations prevented the team from making another deep playoff run.
NBA Ownership
Financial difficulties eventually forced George Shinn to sell the franchise.
In December 2010, the NBA purchased the Hornets, making the league the team's temporary owner while it searched for a permanent buyer.
The unusual arrangement lasted more than a year.
Chris Paul Trade
During the 2011 offseason, Chris Paul requested a trade.
A proposed deal sending Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers was famously vetoed by NBA Commissioner David Stern, who was acting on behalf of the league-owned franchise.
Paul was ultimately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
In return, New Orleans received:
- Eric Gordon
- Chris Kaman
- Al-Farouq Aminu
- Minnesota's unprotected first-round draft pick
The trade began another rebuilding effort.
Anthony Davis Arrives
The Hornets won the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery and selected Anthony Davis with the first overall pick.
The former Kentucky star immediately became the centerpiece of the franchise's future.
Tom Benson Purchases the Team
In 2012, New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson purchased the Hornets from the NBA.
Benson committed to keeping the franchise in New Orleans and strengthening its ties to Louisiana.
Becoming the Pelicans
Believing the Hornets nickname lacked regional identity, Benson announced a rebranding.
On April 18, 2013, the franchise officially became the New Orleans Pelicans.
The pelican, Louisiana's state bird, provided a stronger connection to the state's culture and history.
The Hornets name later returned to Charlotte when the Bobcats reclaimed their original identity in 2014.
Home Arena
| Years |
Arena |
| 2002–2013 |
New Orleans Arena (now Smoothie King Center) |
| 2005–2007 |
Also played home games at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City |
Franchise Timeline
| Year |
Event |
| 2002 | Charlotte Hornets relocate to New Orleans. |
| 2003 | Reach the NBA Playoffs in their first New Orleans season. |
| 2005 | Draft Chris Paul with the fourth overall pick. |
| 2005–2007 | Play as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets following Hurricane Katrina. |
| 2008 | Win a franchise-record 56 games and the Southwest Division title. |
| 2010 | The NBA purchases the franchise from George Shinn. |
| 2011 | Chris Paul is traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. |
| 2012 | Tom Benson purchases the franchise and the Hornets draft Anthony Davis first overall. |
| 2013 | Franchise officially renamed the New Orleans Pelicans. |
Franchise Greats
- Chris Paul
- Anthony Davis
- David West
- Tyson Chandler
- Peja Stojaković
- Baron Davis
- Jamal Mashburn
- P.J. Brown
- David Wesley
- Emeka Okafor
- Trevor Ariza
- Marco Belinelli
- Eric Gordon
Notable Coaches
- Paul Silas
- Byron Scott
- Monty Williams
Awards and Achievements
- Southwest Division Champions (2008)
- Franchise-record 56 wins (2007–08)
- Multiple NBA Playoff appearances
- Chris Paul finished second in the 2008 NBA MVP voting.
- Anthony Davis selected first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Legacy
The New Orleans Hornets represented an important chapter in NBA history, bringing professional basketball back to one of America's most unique sports cities. The franchise endured extraordinary challenges, including Hurricane Katrina, temporary relocation, and league ownership, yet consistently remained competitive thanks to stars like Chris Paul and Anthony Davis.
Although the Hornets name lasted only 11 seasons in New Orleans, the organization established the foundation for what is now the New Orleans Pelicans. The team's resilience, memorable playoff runs, and commitment to the city helped secure the long-term future of NBA basketball in Louisiana.
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