Last Updated on May 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The New Orleans Pelicans have had several elite facilitators throughout their franchise history, dating back to the New Orleans Hornets era. From pure point guards who controlled every possession to versatile wings capable of running the offense, these players stand out as the best passers the franchise has ever seen.

1. Chris Paul

Position: Point Guard
Years with Pelicans/Hornets: 2005–2011
Why He Belongs:
Chris Paul is the greatest passer in franchise history by a massive margin. He remains the franchise’s all-time assists leader with 4,228 assists and transformed New Orleans into one of the NBA’s best offenses during his prime. Paul combined elite vision, timing, pick-and-roll mastery, and ball security better than almost any guard of his era. (NBA)

Paul routinely manipulated defenses with surgical precision and elevated teammates like David West and Tyson Chandler. His ability to control tempo and create easy scoring opportunities made him one of the NBA’s premier floor generals.

2. Jrue Holiday

Position: Guard
Years with Pelicans: 2013–2020
Why He Belongs:
Jrue Holiday brought a balanced combination of playmaking, scoring, and defense to New Orleans. He ranks second in franchise history in assists with 2,833 and was one of the league’s most complete guards during his Pelicans tenure. (NBA)

Holiday excelled both as a primary initiator and secondary creator. His calm decision-making, strong handle, and ability to create passing angles made him a highly reliable offensive engine. During the Pelicans’ 2018 playoff run, his passing and two-way play were critical.

3. Rajon Rondo

Position: Point Guard
Years with Pelicans: 2017–2018
Why He Belongs:
Even though he only spent one season in New Orleans, Rajon Rondo’s passing brilliance left a lasting impression. He orchestrated the offense during one of the franchise’s best playoff runs and formed exceptional chemistry with Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.

Rondo’s court vision in transition and half-court sets was elite. In the 2018 playoffs, he tied a franchise playoff record with 17 assists in a game against Portland. (Wikipedia)

4. Baron Davis

Position: Point Guard
Years with Hornets: 2002–2005
Why He Belongs:
Before Chris Paul arrived, Baron Davis was the franchise’s first elite playmaker. He blended explosive athleticism with strong passing instincts and helped establish the early identity of basketball in New Orleans.

Davis averaged nearly seven assists per game during his Hornets years and constantly pressured defenses with dribble penetration. His flashy style and transition passing made him one of the league’s most entertaining guards. (https://www.fox8live.com)

5. Lonzo Ball

Position: Point Guard
Years with Pelicans: 2019–2021
Why He Belongs:
Lonzo Ball quickly became one of the franchise’s most dynamic transition passers. His full-court vision and hit-ahead passing generated easy offense for Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

Ball’s creativity stood out immediately, especially in fast-break situations where he consistently delivered accurate long-distance passes. While injuries and roster changes shortened his run in New Orleans, his passing talent was undeniable.

6. Greivis Vásquez

Position: Point Guard
Years with Hornets/Pelicans: 2010–2013
Why He Belongs:
Greivis Vásquez was one of the more underrated playmakers in franchise history. During the 2012–13 season, he averaged 9.0 assists per game and became one of the NBA’s better traditional point guards that year.

He controlled pace effectively and excelled at creating opportunities in pick-and-roll situations. Vásquez remains among the franchise leaders in assists. (NBA)

7. Tyreke Evans

Position: Guard/Forward
Years with Pelicans: 2013–2017
Why He Belongs:
Tyreke Evans functioned as a point-forward for much of his Pelicans tenure. His size and ball-handling ability allowed him to create mismatches and collapse defenses.

Evans averaged over six assists per game during some of his best seasons in New Orleans and thrived at drive-and-kick creation. He was especially effective pushing the ball in transition. (NBA)

8. Brandon Ingram

Position: Forward
Years with Pelicans: 2019–2025
Why He Belongs:
Brandon Ingram evolved into a highly effective secondary playmaker during his Pelicans career. While known primarily as a scorer, his ability to operate as a point-forward became a major part of New Orleans’ offense.

Ingram averaged over five assists per game during several seasons and developed strong chemistry with Zion Williamson through drive-and-dish actions and half-court creation. (NBA)

9. CJ McCollum

Position: Guard
Years with Pelicans: 2022–2025
Why He Belongs:
CJ McCollum added veteran playmaking stability after arriving from Portland. While naturally a scorer, he handled major lead-guard responsibilities and became one of the team’s most trusted offensive organizers.

His pick-and-roll passing and composure in clutch situations helped stabilize the Pelicans during multiple playoff pushes. (NBA)

10. David West

Position: Forward
Years with Hornets: 2003–2011
Why He Belongs:
David West was primarily a scorer, but his high-IQ passing from the elbows and mid-post made him an important facilitator in the Hornets offense alongside Chris Paul.

West excelled at quick reads in half-court sets and became one of the league’s better passing power forwards during his prime years in New Orleans.

Honorable Mentions

  • Zion Williamson
  • Jarrett Jack
  • Darren Collison
  • Anthony Davis
  • Jose Alvarado

Chris Paul remains the clear standard for passing greatness in Pelicans history. However, the franchise has consistently featured high-level facilitators across multiple eras, from Baron Davis in the early Hornets days to Jrue Holiday, Rajon Rondo, and Lonzo Ball in more recent seasons.

Sources:
NBA.com Pelicans assist leaders
Basketball-Reference Pelicans career leaders
New Orleans Pelicans all-time roster Wikipedia
FOX 8 Pelicans franchise history rankings