From Detroit to New Orleans: Joe Dumars Brings Leadership to the Pelicans
METAIRIE, La. — Joe Dumars doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody.
He’s already a Hall of Famer, a three-time NBA champion, and someone who’s earned respect at every level of basketball — from gritty Detroit Pistons guard to league executive. But now, he’s stepping into a very different challenge: fixing the broken culture of the New Orleans Pelicans.
And based on how he handled his first day on the job, he’s not wasting time sugarcoating anything.
“I’m not here to play politics or be popular,” Dumars said with a calm but firm tone during his introduction as the Pelicans’ new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “I’m here to set standards. And I won’t flinch from that.”
It’s the kind of attitude this franchise desperately needs. After a disastrous 21-61 season — the worst in 20 years — the Pelicans are reeling from injuries, inconsistent leadership, and drama that’s spilled far beyond the court. Dumars is stepping into a storm. But he looks ready to weather it.
The Zion Question — and a Hint of the Past
Naturally, one of the first names brought up was Zion Williamson. Dumars gave a little smirk when the question came.
“I’ve had a few conversations with Zion — both at the league office and recently,” he said, keeping details close to the chest. “Let’s just say, we’ve had some real conversations.”
He didn’t spell it out, but he didn’t have to. Anyone who’s followed the Pelicans knows Zion has been at the center of more than a few headlines — and not all of them flattering. Whether it’s missing nearly half the season (again), off-court scandals splashing across social media, or even being late for a team flight that got him suspended, Zion’s reliability has been shaky at best.
Dumars isn’t the kind of guy who airs dirty laundry. But he made it clear: this team will no longer be built around excuses.
“If you allow things to slide, you lose your edge. That’s not how elite teams operate,” he said. “That’s how teams fall apart.”
A Quiet Room Speaks Loud
Only two Pelicans players showed up to Dumars’ introductory press conference — CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado. That’s it.
Maybe it was a scheduling thing. Maybe not. But either way, it didn’t seem to faze Dumars. He’s more focused on setting a tone than being celebrated.
Head coach Willie Green was there, though. His future remains uncertain — he’s entering the final year of his deal — but Dumars kept it respectful.
“I’ve known Willie a long time,” Dumars said. “Great guy. Great heart.”
Whether Green is still around next season, though? Dumars wasn’t ready to say.
He made it clear that for now, he’s listening. Watching. Learning. But when it’s time to make decisions, he’ll make them decisively.
From Louisiana, With Tough Love
If anyone understands what New Orleans means to its people, it’s Joe Dumars.
He grew up in Natchitoches. Played college ball at McNeese State. He’s a lifelong Saints fan. And he’s proud of that.
“This isn’t just another job for me,” he said. “This is home.”
Team owner Gayle Benson echoed that sentiment, saying Dumars stood out because he always tells the truth — “even when it’s not what you want to hear.”
In a sports world where honesty is often rare and consequences rarer, that quality might be exactly what the Pelicans need most.
“We’re going to fill this building with people who want to be here,” Dumars said. “People who care about this city and represent it with pride.”
Source: Joe Dumars vows to ‘set standards’ off Pelicans’ 21-61 year
A Culture in Crisis
The Pelicans didn’t just lose games last season — they lost direction.
Zion wasn’t the only one missing. At one point or another, nearly every key starter was out. The team never found a rhythm, and by the end, even the fans seemed worn out from the disappointment.
Dumars wants to know why. Not just the medical reports, but the full picture.
“I don’t come in with preconceived ideas,” he said. “But I do want answers. We’re going to look at everything — training, preparation, mindset. All of it.”
He’s not interested in band-aids. He’s interested in long-term fixes.
“I’ve done this before,” he said. “You don’t build a winning culture overnight. But you do build it by holding everyone — everyone — to a higher standard.”
No More Hiding
Dumars’ arrival came just two days after the team fired David Griffin, the exec who helped bring Zion to New Orleans back in 2019. There wasn’t a public hiring process. No shortlists. No interviews leaked to the media.
Benson knew who she wanted. And when she asked Dumars if he’d take the job, he didn’t hesitate long.
“Sometimes, the right opportunities find you,” he said. “And this one did.”
While Dumars is based in Michigan, where his family lives, he made it clear he’ll be fully invested in this job. He’s not parachuting in to tweak things from afar. He’s here to rebuild — and that means being present every step of the way.
“This job deserves everything I’ve got,” he said.
The Road Ahead
So what’s next?
Don’t expect flashy trades or loud declarations right away. Dumars is a builder, not a showman. He knows success takes time. But make no mistake — he didn’t come to New Orleans to manage another 20-win season.
He came to set a new standard.
“We’ve got good pieces here,” he said. “But good pieces don’t win without a good foundation.”
Whether Zion becomes the face of that foundation or someone Dumars eventually moves on from is still an open question. But one thing is already clear: everyone — from stars to staff — will have to earn their place.
“This isn’t about who you are or what you’ve done,” Dumars said. “It’s about what you’re doing now — and what you’re willing to do going forward.”
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