New Orleans Pelicans: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

New Orleans Pelicans News / The Lead / October 21

Five Pelicans Players With Something to Prove This Season

With the NBA season here, the New Orleans Pelicans have a chance to build on a disappointing 2025-26 season and lay the foundation for a fun, competitive future.

New Orleans Pelicans News / NBA on ClutchPoints / October 21

The Pelicans starter already on hot seat as he stares down monster matchups before Halloween

There is perhaps no tougher stress test to start the season than Yves Missi’s matchups through Halloween. Ivica Zubac, Jaren Jackson Jr., Nikola Jokic, and Domantas Sabonis are waiting.

Kobe Bufkin News / Hoops Rumors / October 21

Jazz To Sign Kobe Bufkin To Two-Way Contract

After being waived on Saturday by New Orleans, free agent guard Kobe Bufkin has agreed to sign a two-way contract with the Jazz, reports Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and The Stein Line (Twitter link).

Giannis Antetokounmpo News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA 60-point scorers' quiz

Throughout NBA history, only 40 players have scored 60 or more points during an NBA regular-season game. How many of the 40 can you name in six minutes?

The 'Multi-time NBA MVPs' quiz

The 'NBA franchise 30-point-game leaders' quiz

The '30-point, 10-rebound NBA game leaders' quiz

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / October 21

Predicting Every Pelicans Player's Minutes on Opening Night vs. Pacers

The New Orleans Pelicans showed that they were willing to defend this preseason. They also showed how little that improvement will matter if they cannot generate enough offense to support it.

NBA News / Yardbarker

Every NBA team's X-factor for the 2026-27 season

Who is the X factor for every NBA player this season? We’re not talking about the go-to guy, like Nikola Jokic or Steph Curry. It could be a big-name player, an all-star, or a bench player, but they are the pivot point for their team.

Derik Queen News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / October 20

Derik Queen's Pelicans Preseason Was a Total Mixed Bag

Derik Queen's preseason offered the New Orleans Pelicans a familiar dilemma: solid production on the glass and too many questions everywhere else. Queen averaged a team-high 8.8 rebounds in 17.1 minutes across four games.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Hoops Rumors / October 20

Grizzlies Exercise Options On Fears, Queen, Missi

The Pelicans have exercised their team options on the 2027/28 contracts of Jeremiah Fears ($8.27MM), Derik Queen ($5.67MM) and Yves Missi ($5.6MM), Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reports.

WNBA News

Angel Reese goes viral for postgame dance moves in WNBA Finals

Sophie Cunningham calls out Angel Reese for 'dangerous' play on eve of WNBA Finals

Olivia Miles leads six-player WNBA All-Rookie team

WNBA playoffs: Dream, Valkyries advance to Finals

WNBA playoff takeaways: Dream, Valkyries advance to Finals

New Orleans Pelicans News / Hoops Rumors / October 21

Pelicans Exercise Options On Fears, Queen, Missi

The Pelicans have exercised their team options for 2027/28 on Jeremiah Fears ($8.27MM), Derik Queen ($5.67MM) and Yves Missi ($5.6MM), Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports (Twitter link).

Jamahl Mosley News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / October 20

Jamahl Mosley's Most Important Task for Pelicans' Opening Game Is Clear

Those who don’t learn from the past are destined to repeat it, a saying the New Orleans Pelicans hope won’t apply to them this season. After back-to-back sub-30 win seasons, the team begins its regular season on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / October 20

3 Pelicans Who Could Be Entering Their Final Season in New Orleans

The New Orleans Pelicans can't keep changing everything around their core while treating the core itself as untouchable. Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson have delivered memorable performances and, at times, given New Orleans reasons to believe.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NBA players to never play in college

Typically, the path to the NBA for most players is to spend at least a season in college to get high-level basketball and important development under their belts.

New Orleans Pelicans News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / October 19

What We Learned About the Pelicans From Their Preseason Play

The New Orleans Pelicans finished the preseason 3-1 and will begin the regular season on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers. While many people don’t put much stock in the preseason, the four games were pivotal for new head coach Jamahl Mosley to implement his game plan across different lineup groups.

Zion Williamson News / NBA on ClutchPoints / October 19

Marc Stein’s Zion Wiliamson observation will need to be seen to be believed

As the NBA season is set to tip off, New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson plans to expand his game significantly. Williamson is known for relentlessly attacking the basket and being an above-the-rim standout, but the former No.

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The 'ALCS MVPs' quiz

The 'Most NBA games played' quiz

The 'Last 30-TD season by NFL team' quiz

The 'Most WNBA double-doubles' quiz

Christian Koloko News / Hoops Rumors / October 18

Christian Koloko Signs With Crvena Zvezda

Free agent center Christian Koloko has signed with Crvena Zvezda, the Serbian team announced Sunday morning (via Twitter). This will be the first European stop for Koloko, who was selected 33rd overall in the 2022 draft after three college seasons with Arizona.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Hoops Rumors / October 17

Pelicans Waive Kobe Bufkin, Jalon Moore

The Pelicans announced that Kobe Bufkin and Jalon Moore have been placed on waivers, bringing the team down to the regular season roster limit. Selected by Atlanta with the 15th pick in the 2023 draft, Bufkin was hoping to revive his career with New Orleans.

Jeremiah Fears News / New Orleans Pelicans on SI / October 16

Pelicans' New Top Priority Centers Around Jeremiah Fears

The New Orleans Pelicans have spent seven years trying to figure out how to build around Zion Williamson. The franchise's best season still belongs to a team that knew exactly who should have the ball.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / October 16

NBA Notes: Pelicans, Jordan Poole, Suns, Grizzlies, Zach Edey

Jordan Poole’s first season in New Orleans didn’t give either side much to celebrate. A new coaching staff offers a chance to change the conversation. New Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley has liked Poole’s work during camp and preseason, according to Rod Walker of NOLA.com.

Hunter Dickinson News / Hoops Wire / October 15

Pelicans re-sign Hunter Dickinson

Hunter Dickinson is back with the Pelicans, though his next stop could be another season in the G League. New Orleans announced it has re-signed the 7-foot-1 center after waiving him from a two-way contract in August.

New Orleans Pelicans News / NBA on ClutchPoints / October 14

New Dejounte Murray injury adds to Bennedict Mathurin’s breakout burdens

The front office expected that Jamahl Mosley’s New Orleans Pelicans would need Bennedict Mathurin to reinvent parts of his game to fit next to Zion Williamson.

Joe Dumars News / Hoops Wire / October 13

Pelicans officially list Joe Dumars’ son as executive advisor

The Pelicans have made Jordan Dumars’ role a little more official. Jordan Dumars, the son of executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, is now listed by the team as an “executive advisor,” as noted by Shamit Dua of In The NO.

New Orleans Pelicans News / Field Level Media / October 11

Pelicans being cautious with G Dejounte Murray’s toe contusion

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is still dealing with a toe contusion and did not participate in Saturday's practice. The former All-Star played in the Pelicans' first preseason game, recording six points, six assists and four rebounds against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA News / Yardbarker / October 1