Bleacher Report’s recent ranking of the 99 best defenders in NBA history included seven former New Orleans Pelicans and Hornets players, a reminder that the franchise has had plenty of defensive talent pass through over the years.
The Pelicans want to build their identity around defense, even though last season’s group wasn’t elite on that end. Herb Jones remains one of the league’s best current defenders, but he was not part of Bleacher Report’s list. The outlet said it used individual awards, statistics and other factors like the eye test to sort out the 99 best defenders ever.
The highest-ranked former Pelicans player on the list was Anthony Davis at No. 19.
Davis has long been viewed as one of the best pure defenders in the league’s history, thanks to his size and athleticism. Injuries have taken a toll at times, but his early seasons stood out.
In 2014/2015, he put up 2.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. He never won Defensive Player of the Year, but he was named to five All-Defensive teams.
Chris Paul came in at No. 29, and his place on the list speaks to how disruptive he has been despite his size. Paul was one of the league’s best at forcing turnovers, leading the NBA in steals per game six times, with a career high of 2.8. He earned nine All-Defensive selections and was also an 11-time All-NBA pick before retiring this past season.
Jrue Holiday followed at No. 35, and he was the first player on the list to earn major defensive recognition while actually wearing a Pelicans uniform. Holiday made the All-Defensive first team in 2017/2018 and the second team in 2018/2019. During that 2017/2018 season, New Orleans was 9.6 points better on defense with him on the floor.
Tyson Chandler checked in at No. 43.
His time in New Orleans came alongside Chris Paul, and he helped make that team a tough matchup for opponents. Chandler was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate with the Hornets, though the recognition came later in his career.
He also made his presence felt on the offensive glass, where he could swing games.
Rajon Rondo landed at No. 62.
By the time he reached New Orleans, his defensive peak had already passed, but he still averaged 1.1 steals per game in his lone season there. His Celtics years were the real showcase, including a league-leading 2.3 steals per game in 2010.
DeAndre Jordan was listed at No. 93.
The version of Jordan in New Orleans is not being asked to be the same player he once was, but there was a stretch in the mid-2010s when he was considered one of the league’s top two or three centers because of his defense. In 2014/2015, he averaged 15.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and one steal per game.
Even last season, while playing limited minutes, he still provided positive defensive value when he was on the court.
Tony Allen rounded out the group at No. 23.
He was better known for his “grit-and-grind” years with the Memphis Grizzlies, and his Pelicans stint was brief - just 22 games as a bench veteran. But his reputation was already set by then.
Allen made six All-Defensive teams and was a regular Defensive Player of the Year candidate as a guard, which is no small feat.
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