The 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 19th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On August 15, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team. On October 22, 2020, the Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach, who was also fired on June 16, 2021, after just one season with the team. The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on May 12, 2021.
Following the season, the Pelicans and head coach Stan Van Gundy mutually agree to part ways.
Draft
After their March 11, 2020 game against the Sacramento Kings was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns with a referee, the Pelicans and Kings were stuck with a tied record for the best odds at the #12 pick of the 2020 NBA draft during the Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season. However, as one of the teams invited to the 2020 NBA Bubble, it gave them a chance to move their selection up with a potential playoff spot earned there. Due to poor performances in the bubble, the Pelicans failed to gain any ground there. Even worse, despite gaining an extra loss, their first-round pick moved to #13 instead due to the Kings winning their tiebreaker via March 11 records. The Pelicans also held three second-round picks, with two of the three picks acquired via a three-way trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.
Roster
Standings
Division
Conference
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
pb – Clinched play-in spot
o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* – Division leader
Game log
Preseason
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | December 11 | @ Miami | | Zion Williamson (26) | Zion Williamson (11) | Brandon Ingram (6) | AmericanAirlines Arena0 | 1–0 |-style="background:#cfc; | 2 | December 18 | vs Milwaukee | | Zion Williamson (31) | Adams, Williamson (9) | Lonzo Ball (8) | Smoothie King Center0 | 2–0
Regular season
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | December 23 | @ Toronto | | Brandon Ingram (24) | Zion Williamson (10) | Brandon Ingram (11) | Amalie Arena0 | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | December 25 | @ Miami | | Zion Williamson (32) | Zion Williamson (14) | Ball, Bledsoe (6) | American Airlines ArenaLimited seating | 1–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | December 27 | San Antonio | | Brandon Ingram (28) | Brandon Ingram (11) | Brandon Ingram (6) | Smoothie King CenterLimited seating | 2–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | December 29 | @ Phoenix | | Zion Williamson (20) | Adams, Melli (8) | Brandon Ingram (6) | PHX Arena0 | 2–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | December 31 | @ Oklahoma City | | Brandon Ingram (12) | Steven Adams (10) | Lonzo Ball (9) | Chesapeake Energy Arena0 | 3–2