# 2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season

The 2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 16th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pelicans were coached by Alvin Gentry in his third year as head coach. They played their home games at the Smoothie King Center as members of the Western Conference's Southwest Division.
The team's second-leading scorer, DeMarcus Cousins, suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury during his subsequent final game as a Pelican on January 26, 2018, and missed the remainder of the season. Despite losing Cousins, the Pelicans clinched their first playoff berth since 2015 with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 9, 2018. They finished the season 48–34 to finish in second place in the Southwest Division.
In the Playoffs, the Pelicans faced off against the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the First Round. On April 14, 2018, the Pelicans won the first game in the First Round playoff series which marked the franchise's first playoff game win since the 2011 playoffs' First Round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 21, the Pelicans completed the playoff series sweep over the Trail Blazers, marking the franchise's first series win since 2008. It also marked the first playoff series sweep in franchise history, and the first time that a team seeded sixth or lower had swept a First Round series since the NBA had expanded the First Round to a best-of-seven series. They advanced to the conference semifinals to face the second-seeded and defending champion and eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the team that swept them in the First Round of the 2015 playoffs and were also champions that year. The Pelicans lost the series in five games and were eliminated from the playoffs.

## Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Club |
| 2 | 31 | Frank Jackson | PG | United States | Duke |
Prior to the NBA draft, the Pelicans had only one second round pick, having traded their first-round pick, rookie Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and the Philadelphia 76ers' original second round pick to the Sacramento Kings in a blockbuster trade for star center DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi. On June 21, 2017, however, the Pelicans acquired the Washington Wizards' second round pick (No. 52 overall) in exchange for guard Tim Frazier. As a result, the Pelicans entered draft night with two second round and no first-round picks. On the night of the draft, the Pelicans traded away their second round pick (No. 40 overall) and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the Hornets' second round pick (No. 31 overall). With that pick, the Pelicans selected Duke point guard Frank Jackson. With the No. 52 overall pick, the Pelicans selected Xavier point guard Edmond Sumner and traded him to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations.

## Standings
### Division

| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| z – Houston Rockets | 65 | 17 | .793 | – | 34‍–‍7 | 31‍–‍10 | 12–4 | 82 |
| x – New Orleans Pelicans | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 24‍–‍17 | 24‍–‍17 | 9–7 | 82 |
| x – San Antonio Spurs | 47 | 35 | .573 | 18.0 | 33‍–‍8 | 14‍–‍27 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41.0 | 15‍–‍26 | 9‍–‍32 | 5–11 | 82 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 22 | 60 | .268 | 43.0 | 16‍–‍25 | 6‍–‍35 | 5–11 | 82 |

### Conference

Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Houston Rockets * | 65 | 17 | .793 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y – Golden State Warriors * | 58 | 24 | .707 | 7.0 | 82 |
| 3 | y – Portland Trail Blazers * | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 4 | x – Oklahoma City Thunder | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x – Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x – New Orleans Pelicans | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x – San Antonio Spurs | 47 | 35 | .573 | 18.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x – Minnesota Timberwolves | 47 | 35 | .573 | 18.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Denver Nuggets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Lakers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 30.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 38.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Memphis Grizzlies | 22 | 60 | .268 | 43.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Phoenix Suns | 21 | 61 | .256 | 44.0 | 82 |

## Game log
### Preseason

2017 pre-season game log Total: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1) :
Pre-season: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 3
Chicago
L 109–113
Anthony Davis (24)
Cousins, Davis (10)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Smoothie King Center 16,962
0–1
2
October 6
@ Oklahoma City
L 91–102
Anthony Davis (14)
Anthony Davis (7)
Jrue Holiday (6)
Chesapeake Energy Arena N/A
0–2
3
October 8
@ Chicago
W 108–95
Anthony Davis (37)
Anthony Davis (15)
DeMarcus Cousins (9)
United Center 17,523
1–2
4
October 13
@ Memphis
L 101–142
Jordan Crawford (19)
Cunningham, Diallo (6)
Jordan Crawford (4)
FedExForum N/A
1–3 :
2017–18 season schedule :

### Regular season

2017–18 game log Total: 48–34 (home: 24–17; road: 24–17) :
October: 3–4 (home: 1–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 18
@ Memphis
L 91–103
Anthony Davis (33)
Anthony Davis (18)
Holiday, Moore (4)
FedExForum 17,794
0–1
2
October 20
Golden State
L 120–128
Cousins, Davis (35)
Anthony Davis (17)
Jordan Crawford (7)
Smoothie King Center 18,171
0–2
3
October 22
@ LA Lakers
W 119–112
Anthony Davis (27)
Anthony Davis (17)
DeMarcus Cousins (8)
Staples Center 18,997
1–2
4
October 24
@ Portland
L 93–103
DeMarcus Cousins (39)
DeMarcus Cousins (13)
Jrue Holiday (7)
Moda Center 19,446
1–3
5
October 26
@ Sacramento
W 114–106
DeMarcus Cousins (41)
DeMarcus Cousins (23)
Jrue Holiday (6)
Golden 1 Center 17,583
2–3
6
October 28
Cleveland
W 123–101
Anthony Davis (30)
Anthony Davis (14)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
Smoothie King Center 18,539
3–3
7
October 30
Orlando
L 99–115
Anthony Davis (30)
DeMarcus Cousins (12)
Jrue Holiday (8)
Smoothie King Center 14,004
3–4 :
November
: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
November 1
Minnesota
L 98–104
DeMarcus Cousins (35)
Anthony Davis (10)
Cousins, Davis, Holiday (6)
Smoothie King Center 14,788
3–5
9
November 3
@ Dallas
W 99–94
Anthony Davis (30)
DeMarcus Cousins (20)
Jrue Holiday (8)
American Airlines Center 19,894
4–5
10
November 4
@ Chicago
W 96–90 (OT)
Anthony Davis (27)
Anthony Davis (16)
Jrue Holiday (6)
United Center 21,254
5–5
11
November 7
@ Indiana
W 117–112
Anthony Davis (37)
Anthony Davis (14)
DeMarcus Cousins (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 15,014
6–5
12
November 9
@ Toronto
L 118–122
Jrue Holiday (34)
DeMarcus Cousins (15)
Jrue Holiday (11)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
6–6
13
November 11
LA Clippers
W 111–103
DeMarcus Cousins (35)
DeMarcus Cousins (15)
Jrue Holiday (8)
Smoothie King Center 17,624
7–6
14
November 13
Atlanta
W 106–105
E'Twaun Moore (24)
DeMarcus Cousins (16)
Cousins, Davis (7)
Smoothie King Center 14,631
8–6
15
November 15
Toronto
L 116–125
DeMarcus Cousins (25)
DeMarcus Cousins (9)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Smoothie King Center 15,654
8–7
16
November 17
@ Denver
L 114–146
Anthony Davis (17)
DeMarcus Cousins (6)
Jameer Nelson (9)
Pepsi Center 16,816
8–8
17
November 20
Oklahoma City
W 114–107
Anthony Davis (36)
Anthony Davis (15)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Smoothie King Center 16,765
9–8
18
November 22
San Antonio
W 107–90
Anthony Davis (29)
DeMarcus Cousins (15)
Davis, Rondo (4)
Smoothie King Center 17,539
10–8
19
November 24
@ Phoenix
W 115–91
Anthony Davis (23)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
Rajon Rondo (7)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 16,574
11–8
20
November 25
@ Golden State
L 95–110
Anthony Davis (30)
Anthony Davis (15)
Holiday, Rondo (6)
Oracle Arena 19,596
11–9
21
November 29
Minnesota
L 102–120
Jrue Holiday (27)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
Rajon Rondo (7)
Smoothie King Center 15,555
11–10 :
December
: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
December 1
@ Utah
L 108–114
DeMarcus Cousins (23)
DeMarcus Cousins (13)
Rajon Rondo (11)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 17,725
11–11
23
December 2
@ Portland
W 123–116
DeMarcus Cousins (38)
Dante Cunningham (12)
Rajon Rondo (10)
Moda Center 18,730
12–11
24
December 4
Golden State
L 115–125
Jrue Holiday (34)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
Rajon Rondo (11)
Smoothie King Center 17,004
12–12
25
December 6
Denver
W 123–114
DeMarcus Cousins (40)
DeMarcus Cousins (22)
Holiday, Rondo (7)
Smoothie King Center 15,353
13–12
26
December 8
Sacramento
L 109–116 (OT)
DeMarcus Cousins (38)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
Jrue Holiday (5)
Smoothie King Center 15,019
13–13
27
December 10
Philadelphia
W 131–124
Jrue Holiday (34)
DeMarcus Cousins (9)
Rajon Rondo (18)
Smoothie King Center 16,878
14–13
28
December 11
@ Houston
L 123–130
Jrue Holiday (37)
DeMarcus Cousins (14)
Rajon Rondo (12)
Toyota Center 18,055
14–14
29
December 13
Milwaukee
W 115–108
DeMarcus Cousins (26)
DeMarcus Cousins (13)
Jrue Holiday (8)
Smoothie King Center 16,863
15–14
30
December 15
@ Denver
L 111–117 (OT)
DeMarcus Cousins (29)
Anthony Davis (12)
Jameer Nelson (7)
Pepsi Center 17,584
15–15
31
December 19
@ Washington
L 106–116
Anthony Davis (37)
DeMarcus Cousins (13)
Jrue Holiday (5)
Capital One Arena 16,529
15–16
32
December 22
@ Orlando
W 111–97
DeMarcus Cousins (26)
Cousins, Davis (11)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Amway Center 16,922
16–16
33
December 23
@ Miami
W 109–94
Ian Clark (19)
DeMarcus Cousins (7)
DeMarcus Cousins (8)
AmericanAirlines Arena 19,600
17–16
34
December 27
Brooklyn
W 128–113
Anthony Davis (33)
DeMarcus Cousins (14)
Rajon Rondo (25)
Smoothie King Center 16,707
18–16
35
December 29
Dallas
L 120–128
Anthony Davis (33)
DeMarcus Cousins (20)
Cousins, Rondo (8)
Smoothie King Center 16,878
18–17
36
December 30
New York
L 103–105
Anthony Davis (31)
DeMarcus Cousins (19)
Rajon Rondo (12)
Smoothie King Center 16,947
18–18 :
January
: 9–5 (home: 5–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
37
January 3
@ Utah
W 108–98
Anthony Davis (29)
Anthony Davis (15)
Holiday, Moore (5)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306
19–18
38
January 6
@ Minnesota
L 98–116
DeMarcus Cousins (23)
DeMarcus Cousins (15)
DeMarcus Cousins (5)
Target Center 18,978
19–19
39
January 8
Detroit
W 112–109
Anthony Davis (30)
Cousins, Davis (10)
Rajon Rondo (15)
Smoothie King Center 12,874
20–19
40
January 10
@ Memphis
L 102–105
DeMarcus Cousins (29)
DeMarcus Cousins (8)
Jrue Holiday (6)
FedExForum 14,312
20–20
41
January 12
Portland
W 119–113
Anthony Davis (36)
DeMarcus Cousins (19)
DeMarcus Cousins (8)
Smoothie King Center 17,003
21–20
42
January 14
@ New York
W 123–118 (OT)
Anthony Davis (48)
Anthony Davis (17)
Cousins, Rondo (5)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
22–20
43
January 16
@ Boston
W 116–113 (OT)
Anthony Davis (45)
Anthony Davis (16)
Rajon Rondo (8)
TD Garden 18,624
23–20
44
January 17
@ Atlanta
L 93–94
Jrue Holiday (22)
DeMarcus Cousins (14)
DeMarcus Cousins (7)
Philips Arena 10,894
23–21
45
January 20
Memphis
W 111–104
Jrue Holiday (27)
Anthony Davis (12)
Jrue Holiday (8)
Smoothie King Center 18,212
24–21
46
January 22
Chicago
W 132–128 (2OT)
DeMarcus Cousins (44)
DeMarcus Cousins (24)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
Smoothie King Center 17,101
25–21
47
January 24
@ Charlotte
W 101–96
Davis, Holiday (19)
DeMarcus Cousins (13)
Cousins, Rondo (5)
Spectrum Center 14,588
26–21
48
January 26
Houston
W 115–113
Anthony Davis (27)
DeMarcus Cousins (13)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
Smoothie King Center 17,186
27–21
49
January 28
LA Clippers
L 103–112
Anthony Davis (25)
Anthony Davis (17)
Jrue Holiday (7)
Smoothie King Center 16,378
27–22
50
January 30
Sacramento
L 103–114
Anthony Davis (23)
Anthony Davis (13)
Jameer Nelson (8)
Smoothie King Center 14,292
27–23 :
February
: 8–3 (home: 3–1; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
51
February 2
@ Oklahoma City
W 114–100
Anthony Davis (43)
Anthony Davis (10)
Rajon Rondo (13)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
28–23
52
February 3
@ Minnesota
L 107–118
Anthony Davis (38)
Nikola Mirotic (12)
Jrue Holiday (9)
Target Center 17,954
28–24
53
February 5
Utah
L 109–133
Jrue Holiday (28)
Anthony Davis (11)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Smoothie King Center 14,293
28–25
February 7
Indiana
Postponed due to water leak in arena roof (March 21)
Smoothie King Center
54
February 9
@ Philadelphia
L 82–100
Ian Clark (15)
Davis, Okafor (8)
Rajon Rondo (9)
Wells Fargo Center 20,489
28–26
55
February 10
@ Brooklyn
W 138–128 (2OT)
Anthony Davis (44)
Anthony Davis (17)
Rajon Rondo (12)
Barclays Center 16,572
29–26
56
February 12
@ Detroit
W 118–103
Anthony Davis (38)
Anthony Davis (10)
Jrue Holiday (12)
Little Caesars Arena 14,453
30–26
57
February 14
LA Lakers
W 139–117
Anthony Davis (42)
Anthony Davis (15)
Jrue Holiday (11)
Smoothie King Center 15,436
31–26
All-Star Break
58
February 23
Miami
W 124–123 (OT)
Anthony Davis (45)
Anthony Davis (17)
Jrue Holiday (9)
Smoothie King Center 17,751
32–26
59
February 25
@ Milwaukee
W 123–121 (OT)
Jrue Holiday (36)
Anthony Davis (13)
Rajon Rondo (12)
Bradley Center 18,717
33–26
60
February 26
Phoenix
W 125–116
Anthony Davis (53)
Anthony Davis (18)
Rajon Rondo (12)
Smoothie King Center 14,302
34–26
61
February 28
@ San Antonio
W 121–116
Anthony Davis (26)
Anthony Davis (15)
Rajon Rondo (12)
AT&T Center 18,418
35–26 :
March
: 8–7 (home: 5–4; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
62
March 4
@ Dallas
W 126–109
Jrue Holiday (30)
Cheick Diallo (15)
Rajon Rondo (10)
American Airlines Center 19,798
36–26
63
March 6
@ LA Clippers
W 121–116
Anthony Davis (41)
Anthony Davis (13)
Jrue Holiday (17)
Staples Center 16,412
37–26
64
March 7
@ Sacramento
W 114–101
Jrue Holiday (23)
Nikola Mirotic (10)
Jrue Holiday (8)
Golden 1 Center 17,583
38–26
65
March 9
Washington
L 97–116
Darius Miller (20)
Nikola Mirotic (12)
DeAndre Liggins (5)
Smoothie King Center 18,143
38–27
66
March 11
Utah
L 99–116
Anthony Davis (25)
Anthony Davis (11)
Jrue Holiday (10)
Smoothie King Center 18,062
38–28
67
March 13
Charlotte
W 119–115
Anthony Davis (31)
Anthony Davis (14)
Rajon Rondo (17)
Smoothie King Center 15,507
39–28
68
March 15
@ San Antonio
L 93–98
Jrue Holiday (24)
Anthony Davis (14)
Jrue Holiday (7)
AT&T Center 18,418
39–29
69
March 17
Houston
L 101–107
Anthony Davis (26)
Anthony Davis (13)
Jrue Holiday (8)
Smoothie King Center 18,495
39–30
70
March 18
Boston
W 108–89
Anthony Davis (34)
Anthony Davis (11)
Rajon Rondo (11)
Smoothie King Center 18,277
40–30
71
March 20
Dallas
W 115–105
Anthony Davis (37)
Cheick Diallo (14)
Rajon Rondo (14)
Smoothie King Center 14,484
41–30
72
March 21
Indiana
W 96–92
Anthony Davis (28)
Anthony Davis (13)
Rajon Rondo (6)
Smoothie King Center 14,148
42–30
73
March 22
LA Lakers
W 128–125
Anthony Davis (33)
Anthony Davis (9)
Rajon Rondo (10)
Smoothie King Center 18,037
43–30
74
March 24
@ Houston
L 91–114
Anthony Davis (25)
Cheick Diallo (9)
Jrue Holiday (4)
Toyota Center 18,055
43–31
75
March 27
Portland
L 103–107
Anthony Davis (36)
Anthony Davis (14)
Jrue Holiday (11)
Smoothie King Center 15,426
43–32
76
March 30
@ Cleveland
L 102–107
Jrue Holiday (25)
Anthony Davis (8)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
43–33 :
April
: 5–1 (home: 2–1; road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
77
April 1
Oklahoma City
L 104–109
Anthony Davis (25)
Anthony Davis (11)
Rajon Rondo (9)
Smoothie King Center 18,500
43–34
78
April 4
Memphis
W 123–95
Anthony Davis (28)
Anthony Davis (12)
Rajon Rondo (13)
Smoothie King Center 16,521
44–34
79
April 6
@ Phoenix
W 122–103
Anthony Davis (33)
Nikola Mirotic (16)
Jrue Holiday (10)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 18,055
45–34
80
April 7
@ Golden State
W 126–120
Anthony Davis (34)
Anthony Davis (12)
Rajon Rondo (17)
Oracle Arena 19,596
46–34
81
April 9
@ LA Clippers
W 113–100
Anthony Davis (28)
Nikola Mirotic (16)
Jrue Holiday (10)
Staples Center 15,742
47–34
82
April 11
San Antonio
W 122–98
Jrue Holiday (23)
Davis, Mirotić (15)
Rajon Rondo (14)
Smoothie King Center 18,573
48–34 :
2017–18 season schedule :

### Playoffs

2018 playoff game log Total: 5–4 (home: 3–1; road: 2–3) :
First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 14
@ Portland
W 97–95
Anthony Davis (35)
Anthony Davis (14)
Rajon Rondo (17)
Moda Center 19,882
1–0
2
April 17
@ Portland
W 111–102
Jrue Holiday (33)
Anthony Davis (13)
Holiday, Rondo (9)
Moda Center 20,066
2–0
3
April 19
Portland
W 119–102
Nikola Mirotic (30)
Anthony Davis (11)
Rajon Rondo (11)
Smoothie King Center 18,551
3–0
4
April 21
Portland
W 131–123
Anthony Davis (47)
Davis, Mirotic (11)
Rajon Rondo (16)
Smoothie King Center 18,544
4–0 :
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28
@ Golden State
L 101–123
Anthony Davis (21)
Anthony Davis (10)
Rajon Rondo (11)
Oracle Arena 19,596
0–1
2
May 1
@ Golden State
L 116–121
Anthony Davis (25)
Anthony Davis (14)
Rajon Rondo (10)
Oracle Arena 19,596
0–2
3
May 4
Golden State
W 119–100
Anthony Davis (33)
Anthony Davis (18)
Rajon Rondo (21)
Smoothie King Center 18,551
1–2
4
May 6
Golden State
L 92–118
Anthony Davis (26)
Anthony Davis (12)
Rajon Rondo (6)
Smoothie King Center 18,513
1–3
5
May 8
@ Golden State
L 104–113
Anthony Davis (34)
Anthony Davis (19)
Jrue Holiday (11)
Oracle Arena 19,596
1–4 :
2018 playoff schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | Pos. | GP | GS | MP | Reb. | Ast. | Stl. | Blk. | Pts. |
| Tony Allen$^†$ | SF | 22 | 0 | 273 | 47 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 103 |
| Omer Asik$^†$ | C | 14 | 0 | 121 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 18 |
| Charles Cooke | SG | 13 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Ian Clark | SG | 74 | 2 | 1,455 | 127 | 110 | 33 | 10 | 551 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | C | 48 | 48 | 1,737 | 617 | 257 | 79 | 76 | 1,210 |
| Jordan Crawford | PG | 5 | 0 | 53 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 33 |
| Dante Cunningham | SF | 51 | 24 | 1,115 | 193 | 26 | 27 | 16 | 253 |
| Anthony Davis | PF | 75 | 75 | 2,727 | 832 | 174 | 115 | 193 | 2,110 |
| Cheick Diallo | PF | 52 | 0 | 581 | 211 | 19 | 11 | 21 | 254 |
| Larry Drew | PG | 7 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Solomon Hill | SF | 12 | 1 | 187 | 36 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 29 |
| Jrue Holiday | SG | 81 | 81 | 2,927 | 365 | 486 | 123 | 64 | 1,537 |
| Mike James$^‡$ | PG | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Jalen Jones$^‡$ | SF | 4 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Walt Lemon$^≠$ | PG | 5 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| DeAndre Liggins | PG | 27 | 3 | 244 | 26 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 44 |
| Darius Miller | SF | 82 | 3 | 1,944 | 164 | 111 | 28 | 17 | 637 |
| Nikola Mirotic$^≠$ | PF | 30 | 11 | 872 | 246 | 41 | 29 | 26 | 439 |
| E'Twaun Moore | SG | 82 | 80 | 2,586 | 238 | 187 | 79 | 12 | 1,022 |
| Jameer Nelson$^†$ | PG | 43 | 0 | 897 | 96 | 156 | 79 | 76 | 221 |
| Emeka Okafor$^≠$ | C | 26 | 19 | 353 | 120 | 8 | 8 | 25 | 221 |
| Rajon Rondo | PG | 65 | 63 | 1,703 | 263 | 533 | 70 | 10 | 537 |
| Josh Smith | PF | 3 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
After all games. $^‡$Waived during the season $^†$Traded during the season $^≠$Acquired during the season

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 21, 2017 | To New Orleans Pelicans52nd pick in the 2017 NBA draft | To Washington WizardsTim Frazier |
| February 1, 2018 | To New Orleans PelicansNikola Mirotić 2018 second round pick (from New Orleans via Chicago) | To Chicago BullsÖmer Aşık Tony Allen Jameer Nelson 2018 Top 5 protected first-round pick Right to swap 2021 second round picks with New Orleans |

### Free agency
#### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |
| Jrue Holiday | 5-year contract worth $126 million |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Tony Allen | 1-year contract worth $2.3 million | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Ian Clark | 1-year contract worth $1.6 million | Golden State Warriors |
| Charles Cooke | Two-way contract | Dayton Flyers |
| Jalen Jones | Two-way contract | Maine Red Claws |
| Darius Miller | 2-year contract worth $4.3 million | Brose Bamberg |
| Rajon Rondo | 1-year contract worth $3.3 million | Chicago Bulls |
| Mike James | Two-way contract | Phoenix Suns |
| Emeka Okafor | Signed two 10-day contracts / 1-year deal | Delaware 87ers |
| Walter Lemon Jr. | Signed a 10-day contract | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Quinn Cook | Waived | Atlanta Hawks |
| Axel Toupane | Waived | Žalgiris Kaunas |
| Donatas Motiejūnas | Unrestricted free agent | Shandong Golden Stars |
| Hollis Thompson | Unrestricted free agent | Olympiacios Piraeus |
| Jalen Jones | Waived | Dallas Mavericks / Texas Legends |
| Mike James | Waived | Panathinaikos Athens |

## Awards, records and milestones
### Awards

| Player | Award | Date awarded |
| DeMarcus Cousins | Western Conference Player of the Week | October 30, 2017 |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Week | November 27, 2017 |
| Anthony Davis | NBA All-Star starter (5th appearance) | January 18, 2018 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | NBA All-Star starter (4th appearance) | January 18, 2018 |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Month (February) | March 1, 2018 |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Week | March 5, 2018 |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Month (March/April) | April 12, 2018 |
| Anthony Davis | All-Defensive First Team | May 23, 2018 |
| Jrue Holiday | All-Defensive First Team | May 23, 2018 |
| Anthony Davis | All-NBA First Team | May 24, 2018 |
| Anthony Davis | NBA blocks leader (3rd time) | June 17, 2018 |

### Records
#### Season

* Anthony Davis set franchise records in:
** Most blocks in a game
*** 10 in a loss against the Utah Jazz on March 11, 2018
** Most blocks in a half
*** 6 – tied his own franchise mark on the same day.
** Field goals in a season (780)
** Points in a season (2,110)
** Points per game (28.1)
* DeMarcus Cousins set a franchise record in:
** Defensive rebound percentage in a season (30.9%)
* Rajon Rondo set franchise records in:
** Most assists in a game
*** 25 in a win against the Brooklyn Nets on December 27, 2017.
** Most assists in a quarter
*** 9 in a win against the Detroit Pistons on January 8, 2018, tying a franchise record.

#### Playoffs

* Anthony Davis set a franchise record in:
** Most points in a playoff game
*** 47 in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
* Rajon Rondo tied a franchise record in:
** Most assists in a playoff game
*** 17 in Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Tied the record with Chris Paul.

### Milestones

* On November 22, 2017, Anthony Davis reached 7,938 career points, moving him to second in points scored in franchise history after passing Chris Paul.
* On January 18, 2018, both Davis and DeMarcus Cousins were selected as NBA All-Star starters, which marked the first time since 2009 that multiple New Orleans players have been selected to the All-Star game. It was also the first time in franchise history that multiple players have started the All-Star game.
* On January 28, 2018, Davis reached 3,857 career rebounds, giving him the all-time franchise high in rebounds after passing David West.
* On February 2, 2018, Davis passed David West in points scored, giving him the all-time franchise high with 8,702.
* The Pelicans finished second in the Southwest Division, which was the highest since the 2007–08 season.
* The Pelicans finished first in the league in:
** Total minutes played in a season (19,995)
** Minutes played per game (243.4)

#### Playoffs

* The Pelicans clinched their first playoff berth since 2015.
* On April 14, 2018, the Pelicans won the first game in the First Round playoff series which marked the franchise's first playoff game win since the 2011 NBA playoffs.
* On April 21, 2018, the Pelicans completed the playoff series sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers, marking the franchise's first series win since 2008. It was also the first playoff series sweep in franchise history, and the first time that a team seeded sixth or lower had swept a First Round series since the NBA had expanded the First Round to a best-of-seven series.