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SweepSzn

All-time five

All-time New Orleans Pelicans starting five

The best Pelicans at every position, drawn from the 2000s to the 2020s of franchise history — and what the SweepSzn engine makes of them as one starting five. Includes the franchise's years as the New Orleans Hornets.

The starting five

  1. PGChris Paul2008–09 · 2000s
    PTS
    22.8
    REB
    5.5
    AST
    11.0
    11× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (4 1st) · 9× All-Defense
  2. SGJrue Holiday2018–19 · 2010s
    PTS
    21.2
    REB
    5.0
    AST
    7.7
    2× All-Star · 6× All-Defense
  3. SFPeja Stojaković2007–08 · 2000s
    PTS
    16.4
    REB
    4.3
    AST
    1.2
    3× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  4. PFAnthony Davis2014–15 · 2010s
    PTS
    24.4
    REB
    10.2
    AST
    2.2
    7× All-Star · 4× All-NBA (4 1st) · 5× All-Defense
  5. CDeMarcus Cousins2017–18 · 2010s
    PTS
    25.2
    REB
    12.9
    AST
    5.4
    3× All-Star · 2× All-NBA
Projected record
65–17

The SweepSzn engine projects this five at 65-17 (A dynasty).

See the full breakdown →

How this five was picked: by career accolades, one per position. Players are ranked by All-Star selections plus MVP, All-NBA and All-Defense voting, weighted toward what they did for the Pelicans, with full-time starters (30+ minutes a night) first. Each position goes to the best-ranked player who can play it, one season per player — no engine optimizing. How the engine works.

Legends by decade

The most decorated Pelicans of each era, each shown in his best season with the franchise that decade.

2000s

  1. Chris Paul2008–09 · PG
    22.8 PTS · 5.5 REB · 11.0 AST
    11× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (4 1st) · 9× All-Defense
  2. Baron Davis2003–04 · PG
    22.9 PTS · 4.3 REB · 7.5 AST
    2× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  3. Peja Stojaković2007–08 · SF
    16.4 PTS · 4.3 REB · 1.2 AST
    3× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  4. Jamal Mashburn2002–03 · SF
    21.6 PTS · 6.1 REB · 5.6 AST
    1× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  5. P.J. Brown2002–03 · PF/C
    10.7 PTS · 9.0 REB · 1.9 AST
    3× All-Defense

2010s

  1. Chris Paul2010–11 · PG
    15.9 PTS · 4.1 REB · 9.8 AST
    11× All-Star · 10× All-NBA (4 1st) · 9× All-Defense
  2. Anthony Davis2014–15 · PF/C
    24.4 PTS · 10.2 REB · 2.2 AST
    7× All-Star · 4× All-NBA (4 1st) · 5× All-Defense
  3. Jrue Holiday2018–19 · PG/SG
    21.2 PTS · 5.0 REB · 7.7 AST
    2× All-Star · 6× All-Defense
  4. DeMarcus Cousins2017–18 · C
    25.2 PTS · 12.9 REB · 5.4 AST
    3× All-Star · 2× All-NBA
  5. David West2010–11 · SF/PF/C
    18.9 PTS · 7.6 REB · 2.3 AST
    2× All-Star

2020s

  1. Zion Williamson2020–21 · PF
    27.0 PTS · 7.2 REB · 3.7 AST
    1× All-Star
  2. CJ McCollum2023–24 · PG/SG
    20.0 PTS · 4.3 REB · 4.6 AST
  3. Brandon Ingram2020–21 · SF/PF
    23.8 PTS · 4.9 REB · 4.9 AST
    1× All-Star
  4. Trey Murphy III2022–23 · SF
    14.5 PTS · 3.6 REB · 1.4 AST
  5. Jonas Valančiūnas2021–22 · C
    17.8 PTS · 11.4 REB · 2.6 AST

Think you can beat the all-time Pelicans? Go for 82-0.

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