Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 15 best draft picks of all-time

By John Buhler

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 24: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul #3 looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on March 24, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Orleans won 121-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 24: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul #3 looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on March 24, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Orleans won 121-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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David West, New Orleans Hornets
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Fact: the gap between No. 4 and No. 3 in terms of all-time Hornets/Pelicans greats is massive. While J.R. Smith comes in at No. 4 due to a few good years in The Big Easy, there is no doubt how positively impactful power forward David West was when he played for the Hornets. New Orleans made one of its best selections to date in taking him No. 18 overall in the famous 2003 NBA Draft out of Xavier University.

While West is not going to end up a Basketball Hall of Famer like his draft classmates of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, West was a hell of a player during his eight years with the Hornets. He was a two-time NBA All-Star with the Hornets in 2008 and 2009. Though never the best player on his team, West was certainly capable of being a star in a secondary role.

After the 2010-11 NBA season, West would sign with the Indiana Pacers in free agency. He would be starting power forward for a pair of Pacers teams that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Too bad his Pacers got buzz sawed by James‘ Miami Heat. Beginning in 2015, West would start ring chasing. While it didn’t work initially with the San Antonio Spurs, West did become an NBA champion as a reserve player on the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.

West has a great shot at winning ring No. 2 as a member of the Warriors. Combined with his impressive collegiate career at Xavier, maybe West does have an outside shot at Springfield enshrinement one day? However, his most compelling case comes from his time in New Orleans/Oklahoma City with the Hornets. In eight years with the Hornets, West averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 32.4 minutes per contest.