 After Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. city of New Orleans , Louisiana on August 29 , 2005 , and caused extensive damage to the New Orleans Arena , the New Orleans Hornets ( now known as the New Orleans Pelicans ) of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) were unable to play any home games there for the entire 2005 – 06 season . They temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , becoming the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets . After playing the majority of home games for both the 2005 – 06 and 2006 – 07 seasons at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City , the Hornets returned to New Orleans for the 2007 – 08 season . 
