New Orleans Pelicans by the Numbers: Number 18
Since the NBA officially put a team in New Orleans long-term for the 2002-2003 season 38 numbers have been worn in New Orleans Pelicans franchise history in 128 different combinations. Some numbers, like 2,5 and 6 have been worn by many players over that time. Some others like 0,16 and 30 have been worn by just a single player. But no jersey in franchise history has ever been worn for as little amount of time as the number 18.
The First to Wear Number 18: Solomon Jones, 2011-2012
The Most Recent to Wear Number 18: Solomon Jones, 2011-2012
The Number 12’s in Between: None.
Solomon Jones has been a member of a lot of different teams in his NBA career. By virtue of being 6 foot 10 inches tall Jones has repeatedly caught on with teams despite the fact that the size he possess have never actually translated into NBA production. Yet seven NBA teams have decided to take a chance on Hill at some point in his eight year career, hoping that they could be the one team to pull his skills from potential into production.
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The fifth of those seven teams to take a chance on Jones was the New Orleans Hornets, for a grand total of 11 games and 196 minutes in 2011-2012. In those 11 games Jones did a whole lot of nothing, finishing with a grand total of 61 points, 41 rebounds and 31 personal fouls for a Pelicans team in need of size in the middle of the season. The one highlight of Jones tenure actually came in his third to last game of the season when he posted 12 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes against the Indiana Pacers. It was just one of three times that Jones hit double digits in his games and the only time he grabbed above seven rebounds as well.
Just two games after his finest game in the number 18 jersey Jones played his last, as the Hornets decided not to offer him a third ten day contract and Jones became a free agent. Since that time no other player to play for the franchise has worn the number 18 jersey, leaving it with a history that essentially doesn’t exist. The only notable thing about 18 is that it has been used the least out of any number to have been worn in Pelicans history. Eventually that will change but for now Solomon Jones has his name in a record book, which is enough reason for it to change soon.