the new orleans pelicans are an american professional basketball team based in new orleans, louisiana. they play in the southwest division of the western conference of the national basketball association (nba). the pelicans were established as the new orleans hornets in the when then-owner of the charlotte hornets, george shinn, relocated the franchise to new orleans. during the 2005–07 period, the hornets played 71 games in oklahoma city due to the damage caused by hurricane katrina. the team officially changed its name to the new orleans pelicans on april 18, 2013.