Zion Williamson ready to begin sophomore season

From the AP’s Brett Martel: NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson expects to unleash a version of himself that is healthier, more demonstrative and less restrained in his second NBA season with the New Orleans Pelicans. “Year 1 was a lot mentally and physically for me, but I needed that experience,” Williamson said Wednesday as the Pelicans underwent preparations for training camp. “It showed me a lot and now I’m getting ready for Year 2. “There’s a lot of my game I wasn’t able to showcase last year, due to like,…

Read More

NBA releases Christmas Day schedule

Christmas Day is one of the biggest days for the NBA, which likely played a role in the league trying to get the upcoming season started when it shall. Tuesday, the league released the docket of games for the sun’s birthday. Here are the slate of games: Pelicans @ Heat (12pm ET) Warriors @ Bucks (2:30pm ET) Nets @ Celtics (5pm ET) Mavericks @ Lakers (8pm ET) Clippers @ Nuggets (10:30pm ET)

Read More

Milwaukee Bucks trade Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three picks for Jrue Holiday

From James Herbert of cbssports.com : The Milwaukee Bucks have made their big move of the offseason. They will reportedly acquire guard Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, plus three first-round picks, according to Shams Charania. There will also be pick swaps involved, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Holiday, 30, is one of the league’s best defenders and one of the top players on the trade market. He is one of the few guards in the league who does not represent a downgrade from Bledsoe when it comes to perimeter defense, and…

Read More

Stan Van Gundy agree on deal to become Pelicans new head coach

From nba.com: The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to terms with veteran NBA coach Stan Van Gundy to become their next coach, per multiple reports. Van Gundy had been serving as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports before reportedly agreeing to his deal. Prior to that, Van Gundy spent 12 seasons as an NBA coach from 2003-18, serving in that role with the Miami Heat (2003-06), Orlando Magic (2007-12) and Detroit Pistons (2014-18). Van Gundy has coached 907 games in his career, amassing a 523-384 record and led the Magic…

Read More

Pelicans looking at Stan Van Gundy ,Tyronn Lue amongst others for head coach

Former Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy and current L.A.Clippers assistant and former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, Tyronn Lue are amongst four finalist for the vacant opening for the New Orleans Pelicans head coach job, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Van Gundy met with the team Tuesday and Luke’s meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

Read More

Pelicans break off Alvin Gentry

from nba.com : NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans fired coach Alvin Gentry on Saturday after the club missed the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. The Pelicans went 30-42 this season, finishing with just two victories in their final eight games despite the presence of top overall draft choice Zion Williamson and first-time All-Star Brandon Ingram in the lineup. Gentry was hired by former Pelicans general manager Dell Demps after the club fired Monte Williams following the 2014-15 season, when Anthony Davis was the face of the…

Read More

Zion Williamson available for season opener

It appears that when the New Orleans Pelicans tip-off the resumption of the NBA season on Thursday, Zion Williamson will be available to play. Williamson had left the NBA campus the earlier in the month to attend to “ an urgent family matter”. The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania reported Williamson’s quarantine period will be four days, paving the way for him to be able to play in the re-opener against the Utah Jazz. The Pelicans are currently in the ninth spot, 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the…

Read More

Zion Williamson back at NBA campus

Zion Williamson has retuned to the NBA campus in Orlando. The Pelicans made the announcement Friday evening that their rookie phenom was back after leaving earlier to deal with a family matter. Williamson himself had this to say in a statement: “My family and I appreciate the love and respect that everyone showed us while we dealt with a private family matter. I‘m excited to rejoin my team in Orlando and look forward to getting back on the court with my teammates after quarantine.” In his absence, Zion was tested…

Read More

Zion Williamson status update

New Orleans Pelicans rookie phenom Zion Williamson left the NBA campus in Orlando last week under the story of attending to an “urgent family matter.” While he has been away from his ballclub, Williamson has been getting tested for COVID-19 daily and those test have all come back negative. According to the team, although there is not yet a timetable for his return to campus, Zion does “fully intends to rejoin the team.” Whenever Williamson does make his return to Orlando, his quarantine time period will then be returned, per…

Read More

Pelicans’ Jahlil Okafor latest to give up no. 8 jersey

Since the tragic death of NBA all-timer Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash Sunday morning, many tributes have played out across the nba. One of them is players have been wearing one of two numbers, 8 and 24, Bryant sported through his career, or those Jwho have been wearing 8 giving up the number. Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie switched from 8 to 26, while Orlando Magic wing changed from 8 to 31. The latest to give up the number 8 will be New Orleans…

Read More