Jamahl Mosley didn’t need a long history lesson to understand what Steve Gleason means to New Orleans. The Pelicans coach was still early in his NBA coaching journey 20 years ago, working as a player development coach with the Denver Nuggets when Gleason’s famous blocked punt became one of the defining images in Saints history.
Now in his first season leading the Pelicans, Mosley finally got the chance to meet Gleason two weeks ago, when Gleason hosted a two-day basketball camp at the Pelicans’ practice facility. That meeting only deepened Mosley’s appreciation for what Gleason has represented to the city, both through that unforgettable football moment and through the way he has faced ALS.
“I don’t think there is any other way to put it other than you have to have gratitude for everything that you get to do,” Mosley said. “His story is about the resilience and what it represents to this city and what it means to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
To keep going even when times become difficult. I don’t think you can stress that enough.
It’s something special to watch how strong he is in those moments.”
Gleason will be honored Monday night when the Saints face the Atlanta Falcons in a game marking the 20th anniversary of the first contest back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Mosley attended the Saints’ home opener last week against the Las Vegas Raiders and was on the sideline with Gleason.
He won’t be in the building Monday, though, because the Pelicans will be in Oklahoma City for Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Thunder. Still, Mosley has made sure his team understands what the “Domecoming” game stands for.
“We’ve talked about it with our group,” Mosely said. “That’s another piece of representing the city.
How we come together. How we can pour into one another.
How we can give back to this community. I think there are so many things that happen within this city.
But there is the richness of this city of everybody pulling together to make sure that everybody is on the same page and that everybody is coming together to do it for a bigger cause.”
In Other News...
Pelicans Rookie Jaron Pierre Jr. Is Giving New Orleans Fans A Reason To Smile
Jaron Pierre Jr. got to bring his NBA journey back to where it started this week, returning to St. Augustine for a Pelicans practice in the gym where he first learned the game. For a rookie trying to carve out his place in New Orleans, the setting fit the moment. Pierre has already been open about how difficult his college path was, and now hes getting a chance to play for the team he grew up watching, which gives his first steps with the Pelicans a little more meaning.
Jamahl Mosley has noticed the energy Pierre brings with him every day. The Pelicans coach praised the rookies joy and his work ethic as he gets ready for his first preseason game, a useful combination for a player trying to turn a hometown opportunity into something bigger. For a franchise looking for reasons to feel good early, Pierres story has given fans at least one. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Just Sent A Clear Message About This Roster Overhaul
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For New Orleans, Hawkins brief stop in Memphis is another reminder of how quickly the league can turn a player into a movable piece during an overhaul. The Pelicans have watched the Grizzlies make bold changes around the margins and at the top of the roster, and Hawkins now heads into free agency with his next landing spot still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Fans Know Why Lakers Should Worry About Kevon Looney
The Lakers decision to add Kevon Looney on a veteran minimum deal was meant to shore up the center rotation behind Walker Kessler, but Pelicans fans already know the fit comes with some questions. Looney spent last season in New Orleans, and the look he gave the Pelicans was not the same steady, championship-level presence the Lakers are hoping to get from a backup big.
Early training camp reports only add to the unease around what Looney can still provide on a night-to-night basis. Los Angeles is already staring at roster cuts and a deadline to trim guaranteed contracts, so if the backup center spot remains unsettled, the front office may not wait long to explore a trade and try to find a more dependable option. [Read more 🡒]