NBA professional basketball team season
The 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 19th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On August 15, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team.[1] On October 22, 2020, the Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach, who was also fired on June 16, 2021, after just one season with the team.[2] The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on May 12, 2021.[3]
Following the season, the Pelicans and head coach Stan Van Gundy mutually agreed to part ways.[4]
After their March 11, 2020 game against the Sacramento Kings was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns with a referee, the Pelicans and Kings were stuck with a tied record for the best odds at the #12 pick of the 2020 NBA draft during the Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season . However, as one of the teams invited to the 2020 NBA Bubble , it gave them a chance to move their selection up with a potential playoff spot earned there. Due to poor performances in the bubble, the Pelicans failed to gain any ground there. Even worse, despite gaining an extra loss, their first-round pick moved to #13 instead due to the Kings winning their tiebreaker via March 11 records. The Pelicans also held three second-round picks, with two of the three picks acquired via a three-way trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons .[5]
2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 12 Adams, Steven 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1993-07-20 Pittsburgh G 6 Alexander-Walker, Nickeil 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998-09-02 Virginia Tech G 2 Ball, Lonzo 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1997-10-27 UCLA G 5 Bledsoe, Eric 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1989-12-09 Kentucky F 32 Gabriel, Wenyen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1997-03-26 Kentucky G 3 Hart, Josh 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1995-03-06 Villanova F/C 10 Hayes, Jaxson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2000-05-23 Texas F/C 9 Hernangómez, Willy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1994-05-27 Spain F 14 Ingram, Brandon 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1997-09-02 Duke F 4 Iwundu, Wes 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1994-12-20 Kansas State F 16 Johnson, James 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1987-02-20 Wake Forest G 13 Lewis, Kira 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-04-06 Alabama G 0 Louzada, Didi 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1999-07-02 Brazil F 8 Marshall, Naji 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1998-01-24 Xavier F 21 Nunnally, James (TW) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1990-07-14 UC Santa Barbara F 1 Williamson, Zion 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 284 lb (129 kg) 2000-07-06 Duke
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(GL) On assignment to G League(TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Last transaction: May 7, 2021
Standings [ edit ] Division [ edit ] Conference [ edit ] Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs y – Clinched division title x – Clinched playoff spot pb – Clinched play-in spot o – Eliminated from playoff contention * – Division leader Game log [ edit ] Preseason [ edit ] 2020 preseason game log Total: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0) Preseason: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
2020–21 season schedule
Regular season [ edit ] 2020–21 game log Total: 30–41 (Home: 17–18; Road: 13–23) December: 3–2 (home: 1–0; road: 2–2)
January: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
February: 7–8 (home: 5–3; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 19 February 1 Sacramento L 109–118 Brandon Ingram (20) Josh Hart (13) Lonzo Ball (5) Smoothie King Center 1,440 7–12 20 February 3 Phoenix W 123–101 Zion Williamson (28) Steven Adams (13) Ingram, Williamson (6) Smoothie King Center 1,440 8–12 21 February 5 @ Indiana W 114–113 Brandon Ingram (30) Steven Adams (12) Brandon Ingram (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0 9–12 22 February 6 Memphis W 118–109 Zion Williamson (29) Brandon Ingram (12) Lonzo Ball (7) Smoothie King Center 1,440 10–12 23 February 9 Houston W 130–101 Brandon Ingram (22) Josh Hart (17) Zion Williamson (7) Smoothie King Center 1,900 11–12 24 February 10 @ Chicago L 116–129 Zion Williamson (29) Adams, Hart (6) Lonzo Ball (7) United Center 0 11–13 25 February 12 @ Dallas L 130–143 Zion Williamson (36) Willy Hernangómez (9) Lonzo Ball (7) American Airlines Center Limited seating 11–14 26 February 14 @ Detroit L 112–123 Ingram, Williamson (26) Steven Adams (12) Brandon Ingram (7) Little Caesars Arena 0 11–15 27 February 16 @ Memphis W 144–113 Zion Williamson (31) Josh Hart (9) Brandon Ingram (7) FedEx Forum 1,982 12–15 28 February 17 Portland L 124–126 Zion Williamson (36) Willy Hernangómez (17) Brandon Ingram (6) Smoothie King Center 1,940 12–16 29 February 19 Phoenix L 114–132 Brandon Ingram (25) Willy Hernangómez (13) Lonzo Ball (12) Smoothie King Center 1,940 12–17 30 February 21 Boston W 120–115 Brandon Ingram (33) Willy Hernangómez (13) Ball, Williamson (4) Smoothie King Center 1,940 13–17 31 February 24 Detroit W 128–118 Zion Williamson (32) Steven Adams (15) Ball, Ingram (8) Smoothie King Center 2,700 14–17 32 February 25 @ Milwaukee L 125–129 Zion Williamson (34) Steven Adams (13) Lonzo Ball (8) Fiserv Forum 1,800 14–18 33 February 27 @ San Antonio L 114–117 Brandon Ingram (29) Zion Williamson (14) Ingram, Williamson (5) AT&T Center 0 14–19
March: 7–6 (home: 5–4; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 34 March 1 Utah W 129–124 Ingram , Williamson (26) Steven Adams (11) Lonzo Ball (8) Smoothie King Center 2,700 15–19 35 March 3 Chicago L 124–128 Zion Williamson (28) Zion Williamson (9) Eric Bledsoe (10) Smoothie King Center 2,700 15–20 36 March 4 Miami L 93–103 Brandon Ingram (17) Josh Hart (8) Brandon Ingram (9) Smoothie King Center 2,700 15–21 37 March 11 Minnesota L 105–135 Zion Williamson (24) Josh Hart (13) Lonzo Ball (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 15–22 38 March 12 Cleveland W 116–82 Brandon Ingram (28) Steven Adams (17) Lonzo Ball (6) Smoothie King Center 3,700 16–22 39 March 14 L. A. Clippers W 135–115 Zion Williamson (27) Adams, Ball (8) Eric Bledsoe (8) Smoothie King Center 3,700 17–22 40 March 16 @ Portland L 124–125 Brandon Ingram (30) Josh Hart (8) Lonzo Ball (17) Moda Center 0 17–23 41 March 18 @ Portland L 93–101 Zion Williamson (26) Adams, Williamson (10) Lonzo Ball (8) Moda Center 0 17–24 42 March 21 @ Denver W 113–108 Ingram, Williamson (30) Steven Adams (13) Brandon Ingram (8) Ball Arena 0 18–24 43 March 23 L. A. Lakers W 128–111 Brandon Ingram (36) Josh Hart (15) Kira Lewis (6) Smoothie King Center 3,700 19–24 44 March 26 Denver L 108–113 Zion Williamson (39) Zion Williamson (10) Eric Bledsoe (9) Smoothie King Center 3,700 19–25 45 March 27 @ Dallas W 112–103 Zion Williamson (38) Josh Hart (10) Zion Williamson (6) Smoothie King Center 3,700 20–25 46 March 29 @ Boston W 115–109 Zion Williamson (28) Josh Hart (15) Brandon Ingram (9) TD Garden 2,298 21–25
April: 7–10 (home: 3–5; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 47 April 1 Orlando L 110–115 Nickeil Alexander-Walker (31) Josh Hart (17) Eric Bledsoe (6) Smoothie King Center 3,700 21–26 48 April 2 Atlanta L 103–126 Kira Lewis Jr. (21) Willy Hernangómez (9) James Johnson (6) Smoothie King Center 3,700 21–27 49 April 4 @ Houston W 122–115 Lonzo Ball (27) Willy Hernangómez (12) Lonzo Ball (9) Toyota Center 3,268 22–27 50 April 6 @ Atlanta L 107–123 Zion Williamson (34) Ball, Marshall (9) Lonzo Ball (11) State Farm Arena 2,816 22–28 51 April 7 @ Brooklyn L 111–139 Eric Bledsoe (26) Willy Hernangómez (7) Johnson, Williamson (6) Barclays Center 1,773 22–29 52 April 9 Philadelphia W 101–94 Zion Williamson (37) Zion Williamson (15) Zion Williamson (8) Smoothie King Center 3,700 23–29 53 April 11 @ Cleveland W 116–109 Zion Williamson (38) Zion Williamson (9) Brandon Ingram (8) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 4,148 24–29 54 April 12 Sacramento W 117–110 Brandon Ingram (34) Steven Adams (16) Brandon Ingram (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 25–29 55 April 14 New York L 106–116 Brandon Ingram (28) Steven Adams (10) Ingram, Williamson (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 25–30 56 April 16 @ Washington L 115–117 (OT) Brandon Ingram (34) Steven Adams (12) Naji Marshall (6) Capital One Arena 0 25–31 57 April 18 @ New York L 112–122 Zion Williamson (34) Steven Adams (14) Zion Williamson (5) Madison Square Garden 1,981 25–32 58 April 20 Brooklyn L 129–134 Zion Williamson (33) Zion Williamson (7) Naji Marshall (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 25–33 59 April 22 @ Orlando W 135–100 Brandon Ingram (29) Willy Hernangómez (12) Lonzo Ball (12) Amway Center 3,411 26–33 60 April 24 San Antonio L 108–110 Zion Williamson (33) Zion Williamson (14) Brandon Ingram (6) Smoothie King Center 3,700 26–34 61 April 26 L. A. Clippers W 120–103 Zion Williamson (23) Willy Hernangómez (10) Lonzo Ball (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 27–34 62 April 28 @ Denver L 112–114 Brandon Ingram (27) Lonzo Ball (12) Lonzo Ball (12) Ball Arena 4,022 27–35 63 April 29 @ Oklahoma City W 109–95 Zion Williamson (27) Ball, Hernangómez (10) Ball, Williamson (6) Chesapeake Energy Arena 0 28–35
May: 3–6 (home: 1–2; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 64 May 1 @ Minnesota W 140–136 Zion Williamson (37) Lonzo Ball (11) Ball, Williamson (8) Target Center 1,638 29–35 65 May 3 Golden State L 108–123 Zion Williamson (32) Zion Williamson (8) Lonzo Ball (8) Smoothie King Center 3,700 29–36 66 May 5 Golden State W 108–103 Lonzo Ball (33) Zion Williamson (12) Zion Williamson (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 30–36 67 May 7 @ Philadelphia L 107–109 Jaxson Hayes (19) Willy Hernangómez (9) Hernangómez, Marshall (5) Wells Fargo Center 5,119 30–37 68 May 9 @ Charlotte W 112–110 Eric Bledsoe (24) Willy Hernangómez (16) Eric Bledsoe (11) Spectrum Center 4,196 31–37 69 May 10 @ Memphis L 110–115 Nickeil Alexander-Walker (18) Naji Marshall (11) Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6) FedExForum 2,507 31–38 70 May 12 @ Dallas L 107–125 Bledsoe, Hayes (15) Willy Hernangómez (10) Eric Bledsoe (4) American Airlines Center 4,373 31–39 71 May 14 @ Golden State L 122–125 Nickeil Alexander-Walker (30) Naji Marshall (13) Alexander-Walker, Bledsoe (4) Chase Center 4,155 31–40 72 May 16 L. A. Lakers L 98–110 Willy Hernangómez (19) Willy Hernangómez (13) Naji Marshall (7) Smoothie King Center 3,700 31–41
2020–21 season schedule
Transactions [ edit ] Free agency [ edit ] Re-signed [ edit ] Additions [ edit ] Player Signed Former team
Subtractions [ edit ] Player Reason left New team
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References [ edit ] ^ "Alvin Gentry relieved of head coaching duties" . NBA.com . August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020 . ^ "Pelicans name Stan Van Gundy head coach" . NBA.com . October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 . ^ Clark, Christian. "Pelicans oficially [sic ] eliminated from postseason contention after blowout loss to Mavericks" . NOLA.com . Retrieved July 4, 2021 . ^ "New Orleans Pelicans and Stan Van Gundy mutually agree to part ways" . NBA.com . June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021 . ^ "Pelicans acquire Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith" . NBA.com . February 7, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2020 . ^ "Toronto Raptors to Start Season in Tampa" . SI.com . November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020 . ^ "New Orleans vs. Dallas, Boston vs. Chicago games postponed" . NBA.com . January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021 . ^ "San Antonio at New Orleans game postponed" . NBA.com . January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021 .
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers Culture and lore