Despite the 2022-23 NBA Season not being complete yet, there are still 27 NBA teams with eyes on the 2023-24 NBA Season. Our New Orleans Pelicans are one of those teams, as the team has been out of contention since they lost in the first round of the play-in tournament back in mid-April (man, that feels like a lifetime ago).
With this said, in preparation for the 2023-24 campaign, the team has announced their 2023-24 preseason schedule.
Pelicans announce their preseason schedule for next year: pic.twitter.com/bhhuQWOYpD
— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) May 22, 2023
So, it looks like the Pelicans will have four games, with two against the up-and-coming Orlando Magic (one at home and one on the road). That game at home against the Magic will be their only home game of the preseason. So, if hometown fans want to get an early look at the team before the regular season begins, that game appears to be their only chance.
After that hometown opener, the Pelicans will play three road games in six nights against the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and the Magic. It is worth mentioning that this season the team went a combined 4-4 against these three teams.
While many people don’t find much entertainment value in exhibition games, they are important for building momentum heading into the season, solidifying team chemistry, and possibly discovering hidden high-impact contributors that would otherwise exist in the doldrums of most benches had they not been given the preseason platform to shine.
In the Pelicans’ case, it can also represent an opportunity for injured players to work themselves back into shape. Barring any massive setbacks, the 2023-24 NBA Preseason should be superstar Zion Williamson’s first real chance at full-speed competition since his hamstring strain that sidelined him for the last three and a half months of the season.
Regardless of how you feel about preseason basketball, when it does come, it will be nice to see some New Orleans basketball for what will be the first time in six months at that point.