These seven former New Orleans Pelicans stars were included among the best defensive players in NBA history.
The New Orleans Pelicans want to be known as the best defensive team in the NBA. Their defense wasn't elite last year, but they have one of the best current defenders in Herb Jones and have had some of the best defensive players in league history come through their doors.
Bleacher Report recently went through who they believed to be the 99 best defenders in NBA history, using a combination of individual awards, statistics and other factors like the eye test.
There were seven former Pelicans/Hornets players included in the list. Jones actually wasn't included in the list, as he has traditionally been snubbed by individual honors. Here are the players that did:
No. 93 - C DeAndre Jordan
The Jordan that is currently in New Orleans isn't being asked to be the same player he used to be, but there was a stretch of like five years in the mid-2010s where he was being recognized as one of the two or three best centers in the league because of his defensive acumen. He averaged 15.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and a steal per game in 2014/2015, for example. He didn't play much last season, but he was still a positive defensive impact when he was on the court.
No. 62 - PG Rajon Rondo
Similar to Jordan, Rondo got to the Pelicans at a point of his career where he was less active on defense. Still, he had 1.1 steals per game in his lone season. He was a defensive menace with the Boston Celtics, though. He led the NBA with 2.3 steals per game in 2010.
No. 43 - C Tyson Chandler
Chandler came over to New Orleans to pair with Chris Paul and did create a headache of a team to play for a little bit. He was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate with the Hornets, but didn't really get recognized until later in his career. Even more than his defensive impact, he was a menace on the offensive boards and was able to change games that way.
No. 35 - PG Jrue Holiday
Holiday is the first player on this list to actually get some recognition for his defensive efforts while with the team. He was All-Defense first team in 2017/2018 and All-Defense second team in 2018/2019. He was a complete package who was ultra-impactful. In that 17/18 campaign, the team was a full 9.6 points better on defense with him on the court.
No. 29 - PG Chris Paul
For his size, Paul is certainly one of the best defensive players ever. He was very active with his hands and is one of the best at forcing steals, leading the league in steals per game six times throughout his career, with his high being 2.8. Paul made it to nine All-Defensive teams and was an 11-time All-NBA nod before retiring this past season.
No. 23 - SG Tony Allen
Known more for his grit-and-grind days with the Memphis Grizzlies, Allen closed out his career as a bench veteran for the Pelicans for one year. He played in just 22 games and didn't see the court much, but his defense before he got to the team was elite. He made six All-Defensive teams and was a consistent DPOY candidate as a guard, which is hard.
No. 19 - F/C Anthony Davis
Davis is one of the best pure defenders in NBA history. He has the size and athleticism to stop pretty much anyone. Injuries have obviously hampered him some, but those early years of his career were a sight to behold. He averaged 2.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per game in 14/15 alone. He never won DPOY, but was All-Defensive five times.
