In the short history of New Orleans Pelicans basketball, there have not been many seasons filled with memorable team accomplishments. Especially after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the future of New Orleans basketball looked bleak. While spending time in Oklahoma City as the city healed from the devastation of the storm, the Hornets were adopted warmly by the fans in the area. Hornets head coach Byron Scott even openly stated that he preferred to stay in Oklahoma City.
The return of basketball to New Orleans could have been a short lived failed experiment. Alas, with the city of New Orleans facing unimaginable despair, the NBA stepped up and showed faith in the city and its rebuilding process by awarding New Orleans the 2008 All Star Game.