Pelicans' 25th Anniversary Should Also Inspire Some Changes

As the New Orleans Pelicans begin their 25th season, their history underscores both what the franchise can achieve and why fans keep demanding more. The 2007-08 Hornets won 56 games—still the team’s only 50-win season—and returned home full time in 2007 under Byron Scott, producing a division title and a seven-game playoff series against San Antonio. But since then, the franchise has won just two playoff series in 24 completed seasons and has never reached a conference final, while star eras have been disrupted—Paul’s departure, Davis’ trade request, and injuries during the Zion Williamson period. Fans have shown they’ll show up, from 2018’s packed Smoothie King Center to Williamson’s 40-point 2024 play-in loss versus the Lakers.