The Naismith Hall of Fame, Joe Dumars, has been officially hired as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for New Orleans’ pelicans, was announced on Wednesday.
Dumars, twice NBA champion as a player and executive winner of the title with the Detroit Pistons, returns to his native state in Louisiana and replaces David Griffin as head of basketball operations for the pelicans.
“As a native of Louisiana, this is really a full circle moment,” Dumars said in a statement. “I grew up as a fan of the Saints and the first Basketball team of AAU in which I played at 16 was based in New Orleans, so this opportunity is very special for me on a personal level. I hope to be part of the Pelicans organization and build a team that proudly represents our fans on the court and in our community.”
Dumars, 61, served as Strategy Director of the Sacramento Kings from 2019 to 2022 and had been executive vice president of basketball operations of the NBA League office since 2022.
“Joe’s achievements as a renowned player of the Hall of Fame, NBA champion and executive of the main office are indisputable,” said the governor of the Pelicans, Gayle Benson, in a statement. “I have great respect for what Joe has already achieved as a player and executive, but the most important thing is that I admire his character and leadership. His vast experience and relationships throughout the NBA, along with their strong leadership qualities, will have a tremendous impact on our organization and our goal of winning a NBA championship.
“While I was in the League, it was involved in all aspects of basketball operations and had an incomparable perspective and knowledge of the most effective staff, strategy and tactics throughout the League. That will benefit our team immediately as we move forward.”
Dumars directed the Pistons from 2000 to 2014, winning the Executive Prize of the year in 2003 and building the 2004 championship team. He made a series of movements that promoted the piston to seven consecutive seasons of 50 wins or more than 2001-02 to 2007-08, signing Chaunley Billups, exchanging Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Rip Hamilton Tayshaun Prince.
The Pistons have 14 seasons of 50 victories in the history of the franchise, half of them under the leadership of Dumars.
Written by the Pistons in 1985, Dumars spent his entire 14 -year -old player as an escort and defensive cap with the franchise, winning NBA titles with the “Bad Boys” in 1989 and 1990.
“Joe brought tremendous credibility to his role in the League office and is one of the most genuine and respected people throughout basketball,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “His exceptional career as an executive provided him with an elite understanding of the game and strong relations around the NBA. We are grateful for Joe’s leadership in the last three years and we wish him the best that his new role with the pelicans begins.”
In New Orleans, Dumars is expected to soon imper with the current basketball staff, directed by the good considered general manager Bryson Graham and coach Willie Green. In terms of the list of the pelicans, the franchise will surely have sincere conversations with the forward Star Williamson in his direction with the team.
Williamson has played in just 45% of its possible games with the Pelicans since it was the number 1 team in 2019 and has zero playoff games after suffering injuries before the two postseason appearances of the team in 2022 and 2024.
The Pelicans ended this season with 21-61, the fourth record of the League, before Utah Jazz (17-65), Washington Wizards (18-64) and Charlotte Hornets (19-63).
“There is a lot of talent on this list,” Dumars said in his statement. “My vision is to build a disciplined team that is based on hardness, intelligent decision making and a mentality without exclusion.”
