How to Collect | The New Orleans Pelicans

Collecting the Stars of the Big Easy

Just after the turn of the 21st century, basketball came back to the Big Easy. The New Orleans Pelicans, who began life in Louisiana as the Hornets, have become an exciting basketball destination, as the team builds toward a promising future.

In less than two and a half decades, fans and collectors have seen a contender emerge around the Point God, and a future Hall of Fame big man’s spectacular beginning to his career. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the ways that fans of basketball in NOLA can get started on a team collection.

New Orleans Mount Rushmore

New Orleans’ short history has already built a Mount Rushmore featuring an all-time great, a high-flying point guard, an All-Star power forward, and a two-time champion.

2005 Topps Chrome Basketball #168 Chris Paul RC Blue X-Fractor /90

1999 Topps Chrome Basketball #116 Baron Davis RC

2003 Topps Contemporary Collection #10 David West RC Gold /25

2009 Topps Basketball #330 Jrue Holiday RC

A New Home in the Big Easy

The Pelicans franchise arrived in New Orleans as the Hornets, and promptly treated their new fans to back-to-back postseason appearances. Led by young phenom point guard Baron Davis and prime Jamal Mashburn, the first-ever New Orleans Hornets team is a great place to start building a team collection.

In addition to rookie cards from his start in Charlotte, Baron Davis cards from his time in the Big Easy are also there to be chased, including this offering from 2003 Topps Chrome Basketball, one of the best basketball sets of all-time, which featured, among others, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony RCs.

Mashburn had the best season of his career in 2002/03, averaging 21.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 5.6 APG in an All-Star campaign that also saw him named All-NBA Third Team.

Other players for collectors to consider from this time include longtime Hornet David Wesley, and 2003/04 All-Star Jamaal Magloire.

The Point God Makes his Name

The entire trajectory of the franchise changed when the team selected Chris Paul with the fourth overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. By far the best player in his class, Paul received 124 of 125 Rookie of the Year votes in 2006, announcing himself on the big stage in spectacular fashion. 

In 2007/08, Paul put together the best season of his legendary career. He carried the team to a franchise-record 56 wins, averaging over 21 PPG and a league-leading 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game. That season also saw the first playoff series win since the move to Louisiana, followed by a seven-game loss to Tim Duncan and the Spurs.

Paul was simply spectacular, and the team also got great efforts from David West and veteran Peja Stojaković. Those two, along with big man Tyson Chandler, are other options for collectors when trying to capture New Orleans’ first time among title contenders. 

While Paul would leave in 2011, he left an indelible mark on the franchise, and at his peak, he helped the city fall in love with the team and the game. He received a wide release of rookie cards for collectors to chase across Topps releases, including some phenomenal Topps Finest offerings.

His SuperFractor 1-of-1 2008 Chrome Basketball card, which led off the set, has the biggest sale of any Paul Topps card, going for almost $15,000 in 2024.

In his last season in town, he battled Kobe and the Lakers in the first round of the 2011 playoffs, with a sensational sendoff. Paul averaged 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 11.5 assists in a commendable six-game series loss.

Collecting AD

The next superstar to get started in New Orleans was 2012’s first overall pick, Anthony Davis. Considered a generational talent, Davis re-energized the franchise, earning six All-Star nods, and two top-five MVP finishes during his stay.

Though he controversially moved to the Lakers in 2019, he can certainly be a major centerpiece of a New Orleans Pelicans team collection.

Basketball in the Big Easy

While the Pelicans’ franchise has only been around since 2001, one fun wrinkle to a collection, for anyone looking to represent NOLA, is to capture a piece of the Jazz’s time in the city. In particular, one legend stands out as a player to chase.

Pistol Pete Maravich is, simply put, one of the most talented players in the history of the sport. His combination of skill, whether as scorer or passer, along with his unmatched flair and showmanship, wowed New Orleans crowds from 1974-79. His cards are among the most coveted in the Hardwood Hobby, with his famous 1970 RC, from his start in Atlanta, selling for as much as $552,000.  

Who’s Got Next in New Orleans?

With Zion Williamson leading the way, and talented players like Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III, as well as highly-touted rookie big Derik Queen, New Orleans is building the next contender to do battle in the Big Easy.

Capturing History Your Way

From Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn announcing the return of basketball to the city, to the Point God himself, to AD’s all-world start, to Zion’s overwhelming highlight reel, New Orleans offers collectors a great group of characters and competitors to chase.

In short, there are tons of ways to put together a captivating collection celebrating basketball in the Big Easy . 

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