<Tr> <Td> Home </Td> <Td> Away </Td> <Td> Third </Td> </Tr> <P> The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana . The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division . The team plays their home games in the Smoothie King Center (formerly known as the New Orleans Arena). </P> <P> The Pelicans were established as the New Orleans Hornets in the 2002--03 season when then - owner of the Charlotte Hornets, George Shinn, relocated the franchise to New Orleans . Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the franchise temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City, where they spent two seasons officially known as the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets . The team returned to New Orleans full - time for the 2007--08 season . On January 24, 2013, the franchise announced it would rename itself the Pelicans, effective after the conclusion of the 2012--13 season . The Charlotte Hornets' name, history, and records from 1988 to 2002 were returned to its original city to be used by the then--Charlotte Bobcats franchise, which subsequently became the Charlotte Hornets, starting May 20, 2014 . </P> <P> In 16 seasons of play since the original franchise relocated from North Carolina, the Louisiana franchise has achieved an overall regular season record of 610--686, and has qualified for the playoffs seven times . Their achievements include two playoff series victories and one division title . </P>

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