George Shinn Era
The owner who relocated the franchise to New Orleans and selected Chris Paul.
George Shinn was the pivotal owner who brought professional basketball to New Orleans after relocating the franchise from Charlotte. His tenure marks the foundational era of the team now known as the Pelicans, beginning with their arrival in Louisiana and ending with his sale of the club.
While the team wore the Hornets name during his ownership, this period established the city's identity within the NBA. It is remembered for overcoming the challenges of Hurricane Katrina and building a competitive roster centered around future All-Stars.
- role
- Franchise Owner
- team_name_at_time
- New Orleans Hornets
- relocation_year
- 2002
- sale_year
- 2013
- status
- Deceased
Lore & Background
Shinn's ownership began with a bold move that brought the NBA back to the Crescent City. Following the 2001-02 season, he moved the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans, playing their first home game in 2002 at the New Orleans Arena. This relocation was not without challenges; Hurricane Katrina devastated the city just three years later, forcing the team to temporarily play games in Baton Rouge and Houston while the arena underwent repairs.
Despite these hardships, Shinn oversaw a period of on-court growth. The defining moment came during the 2005 NBA Draft when he selected Chris Paul with the fourth overall pick. Paul's arrival energized the fanbase and turned the Hornets into consistent playoff contenders throughout the late 2000s. Alongside teammates like David West, the team became a staple of Southern basketball culture.
The era concluded in 2013 when Shinn sold the franchise to Tom Benson. This sale coincided with the end of an ownership chapter and paved the way for the official rebranding to the Pelicans. While no championships were secured during his time, Shinn is credited with securing the team's permanent geographic home.
In Their Own Story
The air in the draft room hummed with tension as Commissioner David Stern prepared to read the name on the card. It was June 2005, and New Orleans was still recovering from the storm that had shaken its foundations months prior. George Shinn stood quietly at the podium, knowing this pick could redefine the franchise's future in his adopted home. When 'Chris Paul' was called out, a collective exhale swept through the room. The Hornets had found their leader.
Reader's Guide
George Shinn’s ownership defined the franchise’s relocation from Charlotte to New Orleans following the 2001-02 season. This move established a permanent NBA presence in the Crescent City, though Hurricane Katrina temporarily displaced games to Baton Rouge and Houston during the 2005-06 campaign.
The era is most remembered for selecting Chris Paul with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. His arrival transformed the team into a playoff contender during the mid-2000s, drawing fans back to the New Orleans Arena despite economic hardships surrounding the city's recovery.
Shinn’s tenure concluded when he sold the franchise to Tom Benson in 2013. This transaction paved the way for the official rebranding from Hornets to Pelicans shortly thereafter. While no championships were won during his stewardship, Shinn secured the team’s geographic identity and built a foundation of talent that included stars like David West and Jrue Holiday.
His legacy remains complex among fans, balancing the gratitude of having an NBA team against controversies regarding management decisions in later years. Ultimately, he is the figure who brought professional basketball back to New Orleans permanently.
Did You Know?
- The franchise played its first game in New Orleans during the 2002-03 season under Shinn's ownership.
- Chris Paul was drafted by the Hornets while George Shinn still held controlling interest in the team.
- Shinn purchased the original Charlotte Hornets franchise in 1986 before moving it to Louisiana.
- The sale of the team to Tom Benson occurred shortly before the name change to Pelicans.