The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Joe Dumars as their executive vice president of basketball operations, the team announced Wednesday, turning to the executive who built an NBA champion two decades ago to help the franchise bounce back from one of its worst-ever seasons.
Dumars, 61, spent 14 seasons as an executive with the Detroit Pistons from 2000 to 2014, a stretch that included an NBA title in 2005. More recently, he worked in the Sacramento Kings front office from 2019 to 2022, and spent the last three years working in the NBA league office.
The New Orleans Pelicans have officially named Louisiana native and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations! pic.twitter.com/AUz1TGOJyj
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 16, 2025
A Louisiana native, Dumars played at in-state McNeese before a 15-year NBA playing career. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dumars replaces David Griffin, who New Orleans fired Monday after the team missed the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. Hampered by injuries — only one player (Yves Missi) started more than 56 games — the Pelicans went 21-61, their worst mark since an 18-64 season in 2004-05.
Willie Green will remain Pelicans coach, a league source said Monday. But Dumars will make the final decision on Green’s future.
This story will be updated. More to come.
(Photo: Michael Kovac / Getty Images)