Top 20 Moments in New Orleans Pelicans History
Feb 2, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and his wife Gayle Benson watch from the owners suite during the second quarter of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hawks 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
20. Tom Benson buys the Pelicans
by Nathan Heck
Tom Benson’s purchase of the New Orleans basketball franchise gave fans what they needed most from the team: confidence that the team is not going to leave New Orleans. From the moment the Hornets arrived in the Crescent City, hoops fans have heard it all over and over again: “One more losing season and they’ll move” or “Wow, Baron Davis,Chris Paul or Anthony Davis is really good. He’ll leave in free agency when the team doesn’t want to pay him.”
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This pessimistic way of thinking was not out of line, either. New Orleans and its people live with a chip on their shoulder and assume the entire world is against them. One professional basketball franchise had come and gone already, so why would this one be any different? Why would any star player want to stay here with such an unstable environment?
When the NBA assumed ownership of the franchise, speculation ran wild that the Hornets would be moving to Seattle, San Diego, or another large market without a basketball team. The second Anthony Davis was drafted, fans wondered where he would be traded to in a season or two. There has not been a peep about the team leaving town since Benson’s purchase of the franchise. On top of that, Anthony Davis has made it clear that he wants to be in New Orleans, something that is kind of an alien concept to fans.
Next: Benson's other important step