The New Orleans Pelicans will be pretty quiet during the main events of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend. All-Star Sunday features zero Pelicans players. This marks the third straight All-Star game to be Pelican-free.
The game this year will not be a traditional “east versus west” matchup, but rather a USA versus the World game. No matter how the teams are being split, the final rosters are completely void of Pelicans. Which includes the last Pelican All-Star, Zion Williamson.
When Zion was picked #1 overall, there was an expectation that he was going to be a perennial All-Star. Watching his college highlights, you thought he was a complete can’t miss blue chip prospect. But 6 years into his career…and he’s made just 2 All-Star Games. He won’t be adding to that total this year either.
Saturday Night Showcase Completely Empty
Saturday night will also feature a glaring lack of representation. There will be absolutely no Pelicans competing in the 3-Point Contest. The Slam Dunk Contest is also devoid of any current New Orleans high-flyers…which is another huge miss for Zion.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Zion was supposed to be a high-flying, powerful dunk machine. But his absence from the Slam Dunk contest during his entire career speaks volumes.
Fans looking for familiar faces must settle for watching former Pelican Jaxson Hayes dunk for the Lakers in the Slam Dunk Contest. They can also catch former Pelican Brandon Ingram on the All-Star roster.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
It is a tough pill to swallow. The players who were let go from the franchise having All-Star accolades, while the players you kept to build around haven’t kept up.
Rookies Bring The Heat Friday
The only bright spot happens Friday night during the Rising Stars Challenge. Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears will hit the floor representing Team Melo. Fears has shown flashes of brilliance this season, making his inclusion a well-deserved honor. The rookie continues proving his worth.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Fears will not be the only rookie representing the squad. Center Derik Queen also earned a spot in the showcase to suit up for Team Vince Carter. This could set up an interesting meeting on the court if things go a certain way.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Hopefully these two rookies can bring some hardware back home. Because right now, they are the only hope for a weekend victory for the Pelicans.
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