Throwback Week: Our all-time favorite New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets

This week we are celebrating the history of the New Orleans Pelicans. Taking a look back at all the players, teams, and moments that made this team what it is today. Here we remember our favorite Pelicans of all-time.

Hunter Noll (Twitter: @HNoll21)

Muggsy Bogues

Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest kid. In fact, I was usually the smallest.

Entering High School no movie quote described me more than Fortune from Rudy. You know, the whole, “you’re five feet nothin’, a hundred and nothin’, and you got hardly a speck of athletic ability” speech.

Naturally, that gravitated me towards Muggsy Bogues when I was younger.

He was the ultimate “It doesn’t matter how big you are” athlete. Standing at 5’3”, Muggsy Bogues caused PROBLEMS for opposing teams. Okay, he was probably a little bit of a liability defensively but he did rack up well over 1,000 steals in his career.

Bogues was an elite ball-handler and passer. Paired up with Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, he was also a part of a dominant NBA Jam (tournament edition) team on SEGA that I still run with.

For anyone that grew up as a fan of the New Orleans Pelicans (even when they were the Charlotte Hornets!!), It’s hard not to love Muggsy Bogues.

Alex Stokes (Twitter: @AlexStokes_1)

Chris Paul

I know this sounds obvious but he really led the Hornets at the time. He is the point god, he can do it all, score, assist, steal, and defend.

I do believe David West deserves an honorable mention in this category as West and Paul were an excellent partnership. I am sure Anthony Davis will become this player when he hopefully plays his whole career in the big easy.

Chris Connor (Twitter: @Impatientbull)

Marcus Thornton

This season before Thornton arrived in 2009, the Pelicans were coming off a disappointing follow-up to their Western Conference Semifinal appearance. After being embarrassed by the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs the roster desperately needed better perimeter play.

The nightmares of the Nuggets trapping Chris Paul daring other guards to beat them still run through my head.

As remains the case today, the Pelicans needed wings. More importantly, a wing who could create his own shot. Marcus provided that, in addition to playing at LSU, was instantly a fan favorite. He was a bulldog with the ball in his hands and had supreme confidence as a shooter.

For some teams, guys like him are bad news but the Pelicans desperately needed somebody like him. I enjoyed his scoring outbursts after Byron Scott’s rookie hating was no longer present.

Thornton’s microwave ability was exciting to watch, as it had been years since the team possessed a pure scorer like that. Maybe that’s why I like Jordan Crawford so much.

Justin Jett (Twitter: @JustinJett_)

David West

Chris Paul and David West pick and pops were a thing of beauty. In West’s time with New Orleans, he averaged 16.4 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and 2 assists on 49% shooting.

He represents an interesting time in franchise history and is one of their preeminent stars.

West saw both the major ups, going 18-64 in 2005 and downs, winning 56 games in 2008. He was, and is, a competitor with a tough demeanor and a fun playing style. His mid range jumpers were glorious.

In his time with the Pelicans, 40% of his attempts came from 3-16 feet while shooting about 43% from that distance.

Next: What are the chances of Alexis Ajinca being on the opening day roster?

With the mid-range jumper near death, we truly will never see another player like him.