The New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to have the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Let’s take a look at the Pelicans best NBA Draft picks in franchise history. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. This includes their time as the New Orleans Hornets and New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets as well. Only time with the team is credited, so someone like Dyson Daniels isn’t here after his season with the Atlanta Hawks.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In New Orleans Pelicans History
10. J.R. Smith (18th overall, 2004)
While he played just two seasons with New Orleans, J.R. Smith was tied for fifth in 2004-05 Rookie of the Year voting. He started 81 games for the team during those two years. Smith took part in the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie.
9. Karlo Matkovic (52nd overall, 2022)
As a late second round pick, Karlo Matkovic finds his way on here after just 42 games. Making his NBA debut this season, he played a larger role as the season came near its end. Matkovic reached double figures in scoring each of his last eight outings.
8. Darius Miller (46th overall, 2012)
Darius Miller played five seasons for New Orleans (2012-13 until 2014-15 and 2017-18 until 2018-19). While playing sparingly in his first stint, his second tenure with the team saw him as part of the rotation. In his last two years with the Pelicans, Miller averaged 8.0 points on 38.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
7. Darren Collison (21st overall, 2019)
While he was traded after just one season, Darren Collison made an impact as a rookie. He started 37 games, was named to the All-Rookie First Team, and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. Due to the lack of quality players who played long-term for the franchise, Collison finds himself up in seventh.
6. Yves Missi (21st overall, 2024)
Within the sixth game of the Pelicans season, Yves Missi was inserted into the starting lineup as a rookie. It was a spot he wouldn’t relinquish, and his season consisted of averages of 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 54.7% from the field. The 21-year-old earned a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team.
5. Zion Williamson (1st overall, 2019)
Zion Williamson is a difficult player to place due to his immense talent but extreme lack of availability. In the six years since he has been drafted, he has only appeared in 214 contests. Career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists go to show how Williamson can dominate on the court when he actually is playing.
4. Herbert Jones (35th overall, 2021)
Yes, Herbert Jones is ahead of Williamson, as he was a second round pick who has played in more career games despite being drafted two years later. One of the best wing defenders in the league, Jones made the All-Defensive First Team in 2023-24. He also has nearly an assist-to-turnover ratio of two in his career and has connected on 36.6% of his three-point tries.
3. David West (18th overall, 2003)
A back-to-back All-Star in 2007-08 and 2008-09, David West wore the New Orleans jersey for eight years. The 6-foot-9 forward has played the most regular season games all-time for the franchise (530). West averaged more than 17 points and seven rebounds each of his last six years with the team.
2. Anthony Davis (1st overall, 2012)
Playing seven seasons for New Orleans, Anthony Davis established himself as a top player in the league. The 6-foot-10 forward/center led the league in blocks three times while making three All-Defensive teams. From 2013-14 until 2018-19, Davis averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds each year.
1. Chris Paul (4th overall, 2005)
Known as ‘The Point God’, Chris Paul got his NBA career started with six seasons playing for the New Orleans Hornets. The 2005-06 Rookie of the Year led the league in steals and assists twice apiece with New Orleans. Paul was the runner-up for MVP in 2007-08 and finished fifth in voting the following year.
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