The Pelicans were established as the New Orleans Hornets in the when George Shinn, then owner of the Charlotte Hornets, relocated the franchise to New Orleans. Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the team temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City, where they spent two seasons as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets before returning to New Orleans for the 2007–08 season. In 2013, the Hornets announced that they would change their name to the New Orleans Pelicans after the 2012–13 season. Since 2014, the NBA officially considers the New Orleans franchise as an expansion team that began play in the 2002–03 NBA season.
The Pelicans were established as the New Orleans Hornets in the when George Shinn then owner of the Charlotte Hornets relocated the franchise to New Orleans Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 the team temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City where they spent two seasons as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets before returning to New Orleans for the 2007–08 season In 2013 the Hornets announced that they would change their name to the New Orleans Pelicans after the 2012–13 season Since 2014 the NBA officially considers the New Orleans franchise as an expansion team that began play in the 2002–03 NBA season