New Orleans Pelicans By the Numbers: Number 24

In the history of New Orleans Pelicans basketball franchise, the number 24 has a better image than almost any other number. While the players who have suited up with the 24 on their back haven’t grown to be superstar-like talents, they are some of the most memorable players in the history of the franchise. The number 24 is represented five times in New Orleans history, making it one of the most popular numbers above 20 worn by players. However, none of the five players wore the number in New Orleans for more than two full seasons. Even with the short time wearing New Orleans’ colors, the players wearing 24 certainly did a good job at leaving their mark on the city.

The First to Wear #24: Jamal Mashburn 2003-2004

The Most Recent to Wear #24: Carl Landry 2011-2012

The #24’s in between: Desmond Mason (2006-2007), Bonzi Wells (2008), Morris Peterson (2010)

The number 24 started off being in the hands of the best player in New Orleans’ inaugural season and team in Jamal Mashburn. In that season Mashburn had the most memorable year of his career, scoring 21.6 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds and a career best 5.6 assists. These numbers not only helped Mashburn get to his first and only All-Star Game but it also helped get the Hornets into the playoffs in their first season in their new city. Mashburn had fantastic numbers at the beginning of the next season as well, before injuries held him out and eventually played a big role in New Orleans trading him to Philly, and his retirement from the NBA shortly after.

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In late 2005, New Orleans traded Jamaal Magloire to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a first round pick and the second number 24 in the team’s history, Desmond Mason. Mason may be most known for his 2001 NBA Slam Dunk Title, but he didn’t have the same kind of impact in New Orleans as he did in Milwaukee. Mason only played 145 games in two seasons as a New Orleans basketball player, and didn’t have very eye popping stats in his short stint. After the 2006-2007 season, Desmond went back to the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent, paving way for the next  number 24, Bonzi Wells.

On February of 2008, New Orleans made a three team deal with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, sending Bobby Jackson and Marcus Vinicius out as a way to acquire Bonzi Wells and Mike James. Bonzi played in only 22 regular season games and rarely saw minutes in the playoff run New Orleans had that season, eventually leading New Orleans to decline renewing his contract for the next season.

While the #24 wouldn’t see a new representative for a whole season after Bonzi, it would eventually be worn by a fan favorite in Mo Peterson. While Peterson didn’t put up huge numbers in his first two seasons in New Orleans wearing the #9, he was one of the more likeable players on the team. In August of 2009, Mo Pete tweeted that he would be wearing the #24 for the upcoming 2009-2010 season for New Orleans.

While Mo Peterson started 39 games in his one season as #24, his production was lackluster and most of his minutes eventually went to Marcus Thornton. Mo’s time in New Orleans as #24 was short lived, as he was traded in the offseason to Oklahoma City along with Cole Aldrich for Quincy Pondexter and Craig Brackins.

The most recent #24 in New Orleans is Carl Landry, who might not have played an extensive amount of games in New Orleans, but made quite the impact. New Orleans acquired Landry in a trade with the Kings midway through the 2010-2011 season. Landry’s production during the season was solid backing up David West, yet the real challenge came when West injured his leg and was forced to miss the playoffs, causing Landry to have to step in with the starters for the first round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Landry made a big impact in New Orleans by giving the Lakers a fight in the first round, and while they lost the series 4-2, many mentioned how close the Hornets were to pulling the upset thanks to Landry’s efforts. Landry averaged 15.8 points and 5 rebounds per game and shot over 50% for the series, filling in nicely for David West. Landry came back for the 2011-2012 season, and while his numbers continued to be solid as the previous season, an injury held him out for a good chunk of the year before Landry left to play for the Golden State Warriors as a free agent.

The players who donned the number 24 in New Orleans won’t be the players who left the greatest legacies on the franchise, yet every one of them left their impact in their own way. The tenures of the number 24’s wasn’t very long either, yet from Mashburn and New Orleans’s first All-Star Game appearance to Landry’s gritty performance in the playoffs, the 24 jersey has seen some fantastic moments on the court, with hopefully many more to come, whoever wears the  number 24 next.