Question: where did the pelicans nba team come from

title: New Orleans Pelicans
text: 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 . 

Answer: answer: 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.  On January 24, 2013, the franchise announced it would rename itself the Pelicans.
answer: The Pelicans were established as the New Orleans Hornets in the 2002 -- 03 season.