The New Orleans Pelicans are predicted to have a rough start to the upcoming season with a challenging set of matchups from the jump. Coach Willie Green has gone over .500 in the first ten games only once, two seasons ago, with a record of 4-6 in his other three seasons with the Pelicans. Considering New Orleans has a new starting lineup, fans are concerned about the team's early chemistry. 

Six of the first ten opponents made the playoffs last season, unlike the Pelicans, who struggled last season to keep up in the West. Just the beginning makes for an immediate trial by fire for New Orleans. Will Zion’s return and a few fresh roster additions be enough to make success in the 2025/2026 season possible? 

Let’s go over some of the difficult-level contenders of the first 10 games. 

The 2023/24 NBA Champions still have one of the strongest rosters in the NBA, even without their star forward Jayson Tatum, who’s out for at least half of the season with an Achilles injury.  Two-way players like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White will pose backcourt problems for the team on both the offensive and defensive ends.

The Pelicans are certainly not known for defense capabilities and have spent the offseason building an even heavier offense-centered team, recruiting players like Shaddiq Bey and Jordan Poole. If these two aren’t consistently capable of hitting shots from the outside, New Orleans may have a hard time competing. 

The only hope for the Pelicans is the absence of veteran All-Star Jayson Tatum, who is out for certainly the beginning of the season, if not the whole of it, due to a torn Achilles. 

As far as the Nuggets game goes, Nikola Jokić will be the Pelicans’ toughest hurdle. When up against the Pelicans last season, the two-time MVP center averaged 29.0 PPG, 12.4 AST, and 12.2 RPG, per statmuse. 

Even though the Nuggets have a tight defense, Jamal Murray, their other most valuable offensive asset, is still recovering from last season’s hamstring injury. The question is whether New Orleans’ Zion Williamson’s explosiveness on offense and big men Yves Missi and Kevon Looney’s defense will be enough for the Pelicans to compete. The team’s overall strategy will have to be cutting off Jokić.

Last season, the Thunder beat out the Pelicans in every matchup. Two of which were complete blowouts in 2025, with Oklahoma City winning 115-100 in New Orleans and an embarrassing 137-101 at home. However, this year the Thunder boasts a young starting roster, while the Pelicans have seasoned, playoff-experienced veterans, such as Zion and Poole. 

In this matchup, New Orleans may actually have better depth on their bench. A Pelicans victory will depend on whether Poole can show consistency from the outside and Zion can break through to the center for clean shots. Fans may just be surprised this season. 

Given the difficulty of the front end of the schedule, the franchise shouldn’t be too quick to make full-season assumptions if the Pelicans have a rocky start. With Green’s slow start track record and six playoff-caliber opponents, the Pelicans will have to prove they can compete at a comparable level in both offense and defense.