New faces and familiar stars headline the Pelicans' 2025 roster. Discover the starting five and who's stepping into key roles.
The New Orleans Pelicans begin the 2025 NBA season on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies. Ahead of that tipoff, they have announced their opening night roster and the full coaching staff for this year.
There has been a ton of roster turnover this offseason with a handful of new names to know. Here is how the team will begin the year:
Guards
No. 0 Jeremiah Fears
No. 2 Herb Jones - Also Listed As Forward
No. 3 Jordan Poole
No. 5 Dejounte Murray
No. 9 Jaden Springer
No. 15 Jose Alvarado
No. 23 Trey Alexander - Two-Way Player
Fears was the seventh-overall selection from this past NBA draft and looks to be the future centerpiece of this Pelicans backcourt. He is still very raw, but clearly has a ton of talent waiting to be tapped.
Poole figures to be the biggest impact newcomer of this season, essentially replacing CJ McCollum's role in the offense. He has been an effective and vocal leader early and should provide some great shooting. If he continues to improve in his second year as a point guard, he could be a sneakily huge get.
Murray will begin the year injured, still recovering form a torn Achilles from this past January.
Forwards
No. 1 Zion Williamson
No. 14 Micah Peavy
No. 17 Karlo Matkovic - Also Listed As Center
No. 22 Derik Queen - Also Listed As Center
No. 25 Trey Murphy
No. 41 Saddiq Bey
Queen was the other first round rookie added this past offseason, with his selection heavily criticized. Not because of the player, but because Joe Dumars traded away next year's first round pick to take him.
The former Maryland Terrapins star has been hurt since Summer League and is questionable to start the year, but has been cleared to return to basketball. He should be playing fairly soon.
This position is the clear strength of this team. Both Williamson and Murphy hope to be in for monster seasons.
Center
No. 4 Hunter Dickinson - Two-Way Player
No. 21 Yves Missi
No. 55 Kevon Looney - Also Listed As Forward
Whereas forward the clear strength, this is the weakest group on the roster. They could still very well be good enough to win games, though.
Missi had a solid rookie year and should be better in year two. Looney is hurt right now, but is a hard-nosed defender a rebounder, which are two things that the team desperately needed last season.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Willie Green
Associate Head Coach: James Borrego
Assistant Coaches: Jarron Collins, Casey Hill, Aaron Miles, Mike Hopkins, Corey Brewer, Jodie Meeks, Greg Monroe
Director of Rehabilitation: Amy Atmore
Director of Performance & Sports Science: Daniel Bove
Head Athletic Trainer: Tom Maystadt
Green returns as the head coach, with a ton of pressure to see wins this season. He is well liked by the players, but the team has underperformed in recent years.