New Orleans Pelicans compete the southwest Division of the NBA.
==== 20132015: Hornets to Pelicans ====New owner Tom Benson had indicated early in his ownership that he wished to change the team's name to something more local, even preferring that the Utah Jazz  founded in New Orleans in 1974 and played there until 1979  give up the "Jazz" name, but the Jazz indicated they had no interest in returning the name due to over 30 years of history associated with it
== Franchise history ===== Basketball in New Orleans ===New Orleans had been a founding member of the ABA with the New Orleans Buccaneers (19671970), but the lack of a dedicated arena and a poor performance record led the team to relocate to Memphis

