New Orleans Pelicans All-Time Franchise Team: Starting Small Forward

Dec 16, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings former player Peja Stojakovic next to Kings owner Vivek Ranadive during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Nathan (@NathanHeck22): Peja Stojakovic

You could make the argument that Peja Stojakovic shouldn’t be the starter, and that he was really only a one trick pony.

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I don’t care. I really like Peja (a little irrationally, actually).

He was very productive in his time in New Orleans, particularly in the 2007-2008 season. He shot the three at a 40.4% rate from three during his tenure with the Hornets. I do really like him for some personal reasons, though.

For as long as I can remember, the basketball skill that has impressed me the most is long-range shooting. Even when I was a child, I appreciated the three-point dagger over the flashy dunk. My brother, who is nine years older than me, was a huge fan of the Chris Weber-led Sacramento Kings. Naturally, I watched playoff games with my brother as a child, and Peja was probably the first true knockdown shooter that I was exposed to. Watching him hit shot after shot amazed me, and I developed an affinity for Peja Stojakovic that lasts to this day.

New Orleans Peja was not Sacramento Peja, and that was always clear. However, his role as a pure shooter was the perfect complement to the team as constructed. Chris Paul was dissecting defenses with his pick-and-roll mastery, Tyson Chandler was jamming home lobs, and David West was hitting his patented mid range jump shots. The whole time, Peja was out on the perimeter ready to knock down a shot at any time. Peja Stojakovic was the spacing the team needed to succeed.

Peja Stojakovic was not a great player for the Hornets, but he was a very good role player that I became very fond of. He was an integral part of the roster, and I believe that he deserves a spot in the starting lineup for an all-time New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans team.

Next: Rick Makes a Different Selection