{"id":715581,"date":"2026-04-22T04:06:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T04:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/715581\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T04:06:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T04:06:49","slug":"pelicans-news-fans-pissed-after-exemplary-38-year-employee-fired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/715581\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelicans news: Fans pissed after exemplary 38-year employee fired"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> are in a transitional period<\/a> as they determine which direction they want to take the franchise after a number of years missing the playoffs. Tuesday saw the organization reach a new low.<\/p>\n

Reports surfaced from Pelicans insider Shamit Dua on Tuesday afternoon that long time equipment manager David Jovanovic, who also goes by the nickname, \u201cBig Shot,\u201d has been let go by the Pelicans<\/a>. Hired in 1988 when the Charlotte expansion team was announced, Jovanovic had been with the organization for 38 years before his shocking release on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Big Shot was so well known with the Pelicans that the franchise honored him<\/a> during a game in April 2019 to celebrate his 30 years with the team. <\/p>\n

#Pelicans<\/a> honor longtime equipment manager David \u201cBig Shot\u201d Jovanovic, who has been with the Hornets\/Pelicans for 30 years! pic.twitter.com\/rlLwTauVDI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 4, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n

The move had fans legitimately upset on social media, with some questioning what getting go of a 38-year old favorite does while others critique the Pelicans’ decision makers for this puzzling move.<\/p>\n

\u201cPelicans ownership saw the Blazers ownership take all the negative PR and said hold my bee,\u201d said one fan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pelicans ownership saw the Blazers ownership take all the negative PR and said hold my beer https:\/\/t.co\/G9OBPXui5w<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna put my phone down,\u201d another fan added. \u201cI do not want to say anything I may regret when my emotions calm down. All I will say though is Big Shot was the best thing about that damn franchise and for them to do him like this will forever be fucking unforgivable.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m gonna put my phone down. I do not want to say anything I may regret when my emotions calm down. All I will say though is Big Shot was the best thing about that damn franchise and for them to do him like this will forever be fucking unforgivable. https:\/\/t.co\/voJ9sV0rjk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jono Barnes (@JonoBarnes) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely egregious move axing big shot ain\u2019t no way he deserved that,\u201d said another.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/x.com\/snowlikejonn\/status\/2046679410703565231<\/p>\n

The New Orleans Pelicans are in a transitional period as they determine which direction they want to take the franchise after a number of years missing the playoffs. Tuesday saw the organization reach a new low. Reports surfaced from Pelicans insider Shamit Dua on Tuesday afternoon that long time equipment manager David Jovanovic, who also goes by the nickname, \u201cBig Shot,\u201d has been let go by the Pelicans.<\/p>\n