The New Orleans Pelicans have shown flashes of promise, but they can’t seem to maintain a consistent performance throughout this season. 

The last few seasons have been marked by a mix of promise and frustration. The team ended last season 21-61 and No. 15 in the Western Conference. The vast majority of these games were close matches, and yet the Pelicans have struggled to find their footing despite several promising lineup changes.

The first game of the 2025-2026 season took place in October last year against the Memphis Grizzlies. Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears finished with 17 points alongside forward Herbert Jones and guard Jordan Poole. However, the team ultimately was not able to maintain its lead. During the third quarter, Memphis surged into the lead as the team made six out of eight 3-point shots. 

The first win of the season came a month later during a home game against the Charlotte Hornets. Guard Jose Alvarado snuck in a 3-pointer during the last 16 seconds of the game, while star forward Trey Murphy III scored 21 points. Pelican’s rookies showcased strong performances under pressure, as center Derik Queen scored all of his 12 points during the fourth quarter.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been one of the strongest players on the team this season, consistently leading the squad in points, rebounds and assists. During a Jan. 16 game against the Indiana Pacers, Williamson scored 27 points and made 10 out of 12 of his attempted shots. 

The team’s most recent game was Jan. 18 against the Houston Rockets, where the Pelicans lost a close game. While players like Murphy and Williamson continued their dominance on the court, the Rockets were simply able to rack up more points, especially the Rockets’ up-and-coming center Alperen Sengun, who scored 21 points.

The Pelicans’ next game this season will be against the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 21. Detroit is currently in first place in the Eastern Conference, while the Pelicans are once again dead last in the Western Conference. While individually, Pelicans players have triumphed, the team can’t seem to work together on the court. Perhaps the Pelicans have another great game in them, but nobody would blame fans for failing to be optimistic.