Golden State Warriors

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Pelicans' history is rooted in the relocation of the Charlotte Hornets by owner George Shinn in 2002. Shinn had become unpopular in Charlotte following a 1997 rape allegation trial, and after a referendum for a new arena failed, the team moved to New Orleans. The franchise temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City for two seasons due to Hurricane Katrina, playing as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. The team returned to New Orleans full-time for the 2007–08 season, winning their first division title that year with a 56–26 record. The Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2008 playoffs but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the conference semifinals. In 2013, the franchise rebranded as the New Orleans Pelicans. The team's best regular season record remains 56–26 from 2007–08.

In Their Own Story

The Pelicans' most successful season came in 2007–08, when the team posted a 56–26 record and won the Southwest Division. Led by point guard Chris Paul, the Hornets secured the second overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the first round before falling to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the conference semifinals. That season marked the franchise's only division title and one of only two playoff series victories in its history. The franchise has qualified for the playoffs nine times in 22 seasons but has never advanced to the conference finals, a distinction it shares only with the Charlotte Hornets.

Reader's Guide

The Pelicans franchise began as the New Orleans Hornets in 2002–03, finishing their inaugural season with a 47–35 record before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2003 playoffs. The team moved to the Western Conference's Southwest Division in 2004–05 to accommodate the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. After Hurricane Katrina, the team played as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for two seasons, posting records of 38–44 and 39–43. The franchise returned to New Orleans full-time in 2007–08 and won the Southwest Division with a 56–26 record. The team rebranded as the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013. In 22 seasons, the franchise has a regular season record of 831–937 (.470) with nine playoff appearances, two playoff series wins, and one division title.

Did You Know?

• The Pelicans franchise has never advanced to the conference finals, joining the Charlotte Hornets as the only two teams to have never played in that round of the playoffs.
• The team temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City for two seasons due to Hurricane Katrina, playing as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.
• The franchise's only division title came in the 2007–08 season when the Hornets won the Southwest Division with a 56–26 record.
• The Pelicans were originally established as the New Orleans Hornets in 2002–03 when George Shinn relocated the franchise from Charlotte.
• The franchise has achieved two playoff series victories in 22 seasons of play.

Playoff Elimination and Championship Context

The 2014-15 campaign marked a significant turning point for the New Orleans franchise, as they secured their first playoff berth since 2011 under the Hornets moniker. Despite finishing last in the Southwest Division for four consecutive years, the team achieved a respectable 45-37 record to claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference. However, this renewed postseason success was short-lived. The Pelicans faced the eventual league champions, the Golden State Warriors, in the first round and were comprehensively swept in four straight games. This decisive series highlighted the gap between a newly qualified playoff team and an elite championship contender.

Draft Asset Management Challenges

Heading into the 2014-15 season, the Pelicans operated under significant constraints regarding their ability to draft new talent due to prior transactional obligations. The franchise did not possess a selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, a direct consequence of the Jrue Holiday trade executed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013. Because their first-round pick fell outside the top five protections after the lottery, it was conveyed to Philadelphia. Furthermore, the team lacked a second-round selection as that asset had been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2009. These historical deals left New Orleans unable to infuse fresh young blood through the draft mechanism during this specific rebuilding phase, forcing reliance entirely on their existing roster and free agency moves.

Divisional Struggles Amidst Playoff Success

A unique paradox defined the Pelicans' standing during the 2014-15 regular season. While the team managed to compile a winning record of 45 wins against 37 losses, they simultaneously finished at the bottom of their own division for the fourth straight year. This statistical anomaly underscores the competitive depth of the Southwest Division compared to the rest of the Western Conference. The franchise successfully navigated these internal struggles to secure the eighth and final playoff seed in the conference, proving that a team could qualify for the postseason even while failing to lead its specific regional rivals. This season served as a bridge between their earlier struggles and future success, demonstrating resilience despite divisional ranking.

The Extended Playoff Drought

The 2014-15 season stands out not only for what it achieved but also for the long gap that followed regarding postseason appearances. The sweep by the Golden State Warriors in the first round marked the end of their immediate hopes, setting the stage for three years without postseason basketball. This period highlighted the difficulty of sustaining momentum after an initial breakthrough, as the organization had to wait several seasons to replicate the success of securing a playoff seed again. The 2014-15 effort remains a pivotal memory in franchise history as the sole playoff appearance during that specific era.