The New Orleans Pelicans finished the 2024-25 season 21-61—one of the league’s worst records—despite playoff ambitions, as injuries to Zion Williamson (persistent ankle issues) and Dejounte Murray (mid-season Achilles concern) prevented the roster from ever finding stable footing. This breakdown covers who played, where they struggled, and what comes next for a franchise hoping to turn the page.

4 related posts

League: NBA ·
Conference: Western ·
Division: Southwest ·
Arena: Smoothie King Center ·
Official Site: NBA.com/Pelicans

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Full extent of Dejounte Murray’s offseason Achilles rehab
  • Derik Queen’s return timeline after season-ending injury
  • Whether Trey Murphy III’s neck soreness becomes chronic
3Timeline signal
  • Oct 23, 2024: Season begins with win over Chicago
  • Jan 31, 2025: Trey Murphy III shoulder injury sidelines him
  • Mar 16, 2026: Dejounte Murray listed Achilles day-to-day
4What’s next
  • 2025-26 season with Murray and Williamson healthy?
  • Joe Dumars expects Murphy, Jones fully recovered
  • Rookies like Yves Missi still developing
Stat Value Source
Founded 2002 Wikipedia
Relocated from Charlotte Hornets Wikipedia
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2024-25 Record 21-61 Wikipedia
Home Record 14-27 Wikipedia
Road Record 7-34 Wikipedia
Playoff Appearances Multiple Western Conference Wikipedia
ORTG Rank 26th (111.0) StatMuse advanced stats

New Orleans Pelicans players

The Pelicans roster for the 2024-25 season featured a mix of established veterans and emerging talent, anchored by three players drawing significant minutes: Zion Williamson (#1, forward), Dejounte Murray (#5, guard), and CJ McCollum (#3, guard), according to the Pelicans official roster video.

Current roster

The active roster included Trey Murphy III (#25, forward), Herbert Jones (#2, guard/forward), and Yves Missi (#21, center) as rotation regulars. Supporting contributors were Jose Alvarado (#15, guard), Brandon Boston (#11, guard), Jordan Hawkins (#24, guard), Kelly Olynyk (#13, forward/center), and Antonio Reeves (#12, guard). Two-way contract players Keion Brooks Jr. (#0, forward) and Jamal Cain (#8, forward) also appeared in limited action.

Key players

Williamson logged heavy minutes when healthy, posting 31 points in the October 29 loss to Golden State. Hawkins emerged as a consistent three-point threat, scoring 24 points in the October 25 win at Portland. Murray, acquired to pair with Williamson in the backcourt, dealt with multiple health setbacks throughout the campaign.

Bottom line: Beyond the big three, injuries to Williamson, Murray, McCollum, and Murphy III prevented the Pelicans from ever assembling their preferred starting five for any meaningful stretch.

New Orleans Pelicans schedule

The 2024-25 schedule opened favorably with back-to-back wins, per ESPN schedule data. The season opener on October 23, 2024 resulted in a 123-111 victory over Chicago, with Brandon Ingram scoring 33 points. A 105-103 win at Portland followed on October 25, 2024.

Upcoming games

Early 2025-26 schedule entries include an October 24, 2025 matchup against the Spurs, with the Pelicans official game preview already listing an injury report. The team ended October 2024 with a 2-3 record, then fell to 2-4 after the loss to Golden State on October 29, 2024.

Recent results

According to ESPN team records, the Pelicans ultimately finished 21-61 overall, placing fourth in the Southwest Division. A game against Milwaukee was postponed during the season.

Bottom line: Early optimism from the 2-0 start evaporated quickly as the injury report grew longer and the win-loss column inverted sharply through the winter months.

New Orleans Pelicans injury report

Injuries defined the Pelicans’ entire 2024-25 campaign. FOX Sports injury tracker documented a near-constant stream of health setbacks across the roster.

Current injuries

  • Zion Williamson: Ankle (day-to-day as of March 4, 2026), hamstring (multiple dates), foot (October 23, 2025)
  • Dejounte Murray: Achilles (day-to-day as of March 16, 2026), illness, reconditioning
  • Trey Murphy III: Neck (day-to-day), shoulder (out January 31, 2025)
  • Herbert Jones: Head (day-to-day December 2, 2025), calf
  • Yves Missi: Calf (day-to-day February 11, 2026), foot, ankle, illness
  • CJ McCollum: Listed as injured in the official roster

Return timelines

According to statements from Pelicans executive Joe Dumars, both Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones have fully recovered from their shoulder injuries heading into the 2025-26 season. Murray and rookie Derik Queen continue rehabbing from their respective injuries, with no definitive return date announced yet.

The catch

The Pelicans lost Herb Jones for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, according to Pelican Debrief injury analysis. His absence eliminated one of the team’s most reliable perimeter defenders from the rotation.

New Orleans Pelicans stats

Team efficiency metrics tell the story of a squad fundamentally unable to execute on either end of the floor. StatMuse advanced stats reveal the Pelicans ranked among the NBA’s worst in several categories.

Team stats

  • Offensive Rating (ORTG): 26th in the league at 111.0
  • Defensive Rating (DRTG): 28th in the league at 121.8
  • Net Rating: 27th at minus-10.9
  • Three-point percentage: 24th at 33.9%

Player stats

Individual leader statistics were limited by availability. Jordan Hawkins emerged as a secondary scorer with 24 points in the Portland win. Williamson’s 31-point performance against Golden State demonstrated his ceiling, but inconsistent availability prevented him from accumulating season-long counting stats.

Bottom line: Without consistent scoring from Williamson or Murray, the offense stalled, while the defense—already thin after Jones went out—collapsed entirely.

New Orleans Pelicans coach

Willie Green has served as head coach since 2022, tasked with developing a young core while managing playoff expectations. His coaching staff includes assistant coaches focused on player development and defensive schemes.

Head coach profile

Green brought experience as a former NBA player and assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. His tenure has been defined by navigating constant roster turnover due to injuries. The Pelicans official season preview frames the 2025-26 approach as a fresh start with healthier bodies.

Coaching staff

The staff includes experienced assistants specializing in guard development (beneficial for Murray and Hawkins) and big man coaching (critical for Missi’s progression). Player health and load management have become de facto responsibilities across the entire coaching tree given the injury history.

What to watch

If Murray and Williamson enter the 2025-26 season fully healthy, Green’s offensive schemes should finally get a legitimate test. Without both stars, however, even solid rotation pieces like Hawkins and Missi cannot compensate.

New Orleans Pelicans history

The franchise that became the New Orleans Pelicans originated as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988. After relocating to New Orleans in 2002, the team initially kept the Hornets name before rebranding as the Pelicans in 2013. The franchise has never won an NBA championship but has made multiple playoff appearances, primarily in the Western Conference.

Franchise origins

The move from Charlotte in 2002 marked New Orleans’ return to professional basketball after the original Jazz departed for Utah. George Shinn owned the team through the early New Orleans years before selling to the current ownership group led by Tom Benson.

Key milestones

  • 2002: Franchise relocates from Charlotte to New Orleans as the New Orleans Hornets
  • 2013: Rebranded as the New Orleans Pelicans after Hornets name returns to Charlotte
  • 2018-19: Anthony Davis era ends with trade to Los Angeles Lakers
  • 2022: Zion Williamson signs max extension; team builds around youth movement
  • 2024-25: Franchise records low point with 21-61 season amid injuries
Why this matters

The 2024-25 season represents the lowest win total in the Pelicans’ New Orleans history. After the Anthony Davis trade yielded several productive years, the current core faces its first true test of sustained contention.

Season timeline

Three moments crystallize the arc of the 2024-25 Pelicans campaign.

  • : Season opener—123-111 win over Chicago Bulls
  • : Zion Williamson posts 31 points in 106-124 loss to Golden State Warriors
  • : Trey Murphy III ruled out for season with shoulder injury
  • : Season concludes; Jordan Hawkins reflects on campaign
  • : Dejounte Murray listed day-to-day with Achilles concern

What’s confirmed and what’s rumored

Confirmed

  • 21-61 final record in 2024-25 per Wikipedia
  • Trey Murphy III missed significant time with shoulder injury
  • Herb Jones out for rest of 2024-25 season
  • Joe Dumars confirmed Murphy and Jones recovered for 2025-26
  • Dejounte Murray and Derik Queen in rehabilitation

Unconfirmed

  • Whether Murray’s Achilles issue will affect his 2025-26 starting status
  • Exact return timeline for Derik Queen
  • Whether the team will pursue a trade this summer
  • Long-term prognosis for Murphy III’s neck soreness

What they’re saying

Trey Murphy and Herb Jones have fully recovered from their shoulder injuries. Dejounte Murray and Derik Queen are rehabbing from their injuries with no clear timeline yet, but the organization remains optimistic about their progression.

— Joe Dumars (Pelicans executive)

At the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA season, Jordan Hawkins spoke with media about lessons learned and what the young roster takes into the offseason.

— Jordan Hawkins (Pelicans guard)

The Pelicans enter the 2025 offseason facing a familiar crossroads. The roster has talent—Williamson, Murray, McCollum, Hawkins, Missi—but has never assembled that group for a sustained playoff push. Health remains the decisive variable. For fans, the choice is straightforward: trust the process through another season, or demand changes before another year slips away with the core still intact.

Related reading: SL vs IND 2024 Series Results · Pakistan vs West Indies Cricket Scorecard

Additional sources

statmuse.com

The Pelicans’ dismal 21-61 2024-25 record, detailed in their 2024-25 final standings, was exacerbated by injuries to Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray.

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Frequently asked questions

What division do the New Orleans Pelicans play in?

The Pelicans compete in the NBA’s Western Conference, specifically the Southwest Division alongside Dallas, Houston, Memphis, and San Antonio.

What is the New Orleans Pelicans arena?

The team plays home games at the Smoothie King Center in downtown New Orleans, which opened in 1999 and underwent renovations in 2014.

Who owns the New Orleans Pelicans?

The franchise is owned by the Benson family, with Tom Benson (who also owned the NFL’s New Orleans Saints) acquiring the team in 2012.

How many NBA championships have the Pelicans won?

The Pelicans franchise has never won an NBA championship. The New Orleans era (2002–present) has produced no titles, though the team has made multiple playoff appearances.

How to watch New Orleans Pelicans games?

Games are broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network New Orleans (formerly Fox Sports New Orleans). National broadcasts appear on ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. League Pass provides out-of-market access.

What is the New Orleans Pelicans mascot?

Pierre the Pelican is the team’s mascot, introduced when the franchise rebranded in 2013. The cartoon pelican wears the team’s colors and performs at home games and community events.

Who founded the New Orleans Pelicans franchise?

The franchise traces its origins to the Charlotte Hornets founded by George Shinn in 1988. When the team relocated to New Orleans in 2002, Shinn maintained ownership until 2012 when Tom Benson purchased the club.

What colors do the New Orleans Pelicans wear?

The team colors are navy blue, red, gold, and green—a palette inspired by New Orleans culture and the state’s flag. The primary logo features a stylized pelican with a basketball.