Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans players: who played for both

Who played for both the Rockets and Pelicans?

43 players played for both the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans between 2002–03 and 2025–26, including Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, Steven Adams and Tyson Chandler. 26 of them played for the Rockets first and 17 for the Pelicans first.

Did you know?

  • Bryce Drew is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Rockets first, then the Pelicans from 2002–03.
  • Kelly Olynyk is the most recent: Rockets first, then the Pelicans from 2024–25.
  • Eric Gordon played the most seasons across the two: 7 for the Rockets and 5 for the Pelicans.
  • 4 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Trevor Ariza.
  • Most common positions on this list: PG (11), PF (11), C (8), SF (7).

How many can you name?

Name players who played for both the Rockets and the Pelicans. The surname is enough. 0 / 43

All 43 players, most seasons with the two first

Seasons with each franchise as calendar years (2003–2010 = 2003-04 to 2009-10) and the number of seasons. A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosRocketsPelicans
Eric GordonSG2016–2023 (7 s)2011–2016 (5 s)
Chris PaulPG2017–2019 (2 s)2005–2011 (6 s)
Moochie NorrisPG1999–2006 (7 s)2005–06 (1 s)
Trevor ArizaSF2009–10, 2014–2018 (5 s)2010–2012 (2 s)
Ryan AndersonPF2016–2018, 2019–20 (3 s)2012–2016 (4 s)
Terrence JonesPF2012–2016, 2018–19 (5 s)2016–17 (1 s)
Ömer AşıkC2012–2014 (2 s)2014–2018 (4 s)
Austin RiversSG/PG2018–2020 (2 s)2012–2015 (3 s)
Donatas MotiejūnasC/PF2012–2016 (4 s)2016–17 (1 s)
David WesleyPG/SG2004–2006 (2 s)2002–2005 (3 s)
Carl LandryPF2007–2010 (3 s)2010–2012 (2 s)
Boštjan NachbarSF/PF2002–2005 (3 s)2004–2006 (2 s)
Hilton ArmstrongC/PF2009–10 (1 s)2006–2010 (4 s)
Steven AdamsC2023–2026 (3 s)2020–21 (1 s)
Tyson ChandlerC2019–20 (1 s)2006–2009 (3 s)
Bryce DrewPG1998–2000 (2 s)2002–2004 (2 s)
Ryan BowenPF/SF2004–2006 (2 s)2007–2009 (2 s)
DeMarcus CousinsC2020–21 (1 s)2016–2018 (2 s)
Josh SmithPF/SF2014–2016 (2 s)2017–18 (1 s)
Garrett TempleSG/SF2009–10 (1 s)2021–2023 (2 s)
Bonzi WellsSG/SF2006–2008 (2 s)2007–08 (1 s)
Christian WoodPF2020–2022 (2 s)2018–19 (1 s)
Mike James (2001–2014)PG2004–05, 2007–08 (2 s)2007–08 (1 s)
James PoseySF/SG2002–03 (1 s)2008–2010 (2 s)
Bobby JacksonPG/SG2007–08 (1 s)2006–2008 (2 s)
Toney DouglasPG2012–13 (1 s)2014–2016 (2 s)
Marcus ThorntonSG2015–16 (1 s)2009–2011 (2 s)
Gary ClarkPF2018–2020 (2 s)2021–22 (1 s)
Maciej LampePF/C2005–06 (1 s)2004–2006 (2 s)
Bobby BrownPG2016–2018 (2 s)2009–10 (1 s)
Kirk SnyderSG/SF2006–2008 (2 s)2005–06 (1 s)
Kelly OlynykC/PF2020–21 (1 s)2024–25 (1 s)
Ish SmithPG2010–11 (1 s)2015–16 (1 s)
Omri CasspiSF/PF2013–14 (1 s)2016–17 (1 s)
Daniel TheisC2021–22 (1 s)2024–25 (1 s)
Jordan HamiltonSF2013–14 (1 s)2015–16 (1 s)
James NunnallySF2018–19 (1 s)2020–21 (1 s)
Pops Mensah-BonsuPF/C2009–10 (1 s)2010–11 (1 s)
David AndersenPF/C2009–10 (1 s)2010–11 (1 s)
Randy LivingstonPG1996–97 (1 s)2002–03 (1 s)
James Ennis IIISF2018–19 (1 s)2015–16 (1 s)
Lonny BaxterPF/C2005–06 (1 s)2004–05 (1 s)
Tierre BrownPG/SG2001–02 (1 s)2003–04 (1 s)

From English Wikipedia's player infoboxes (CC BY-SA 4.0), BAA/NBA seasons 1946–47 to 2025–26. A season counts when the player's infobox lists it for the franchise; ABA seasons do not count.Rockets seasons include the San Diego Rockets (1967–1971).Pelicans seasons include the New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005, 2007–2013) and New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2005–2007).

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Questions

How many players have played for both the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans?

43, from 2002–03 to 2025–26, including Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, Steven Adams and Tyson Chandler. A player counts when his Wikipedia infobox lists at least one NBA season with each franchise.

Who was the first player on this list to play for both?

Bryce Drew: Houston Rockets first, then the New Orleans Pelicans from 2002–03.

Who has played for both recently?

Steven Adams, Kelly Olynyk and Daniel Theis, with a season for one of the two in 2024–25 or 2025–26.

Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?

Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise: every old name and city is linked to the club that carries its history today. Rockets seasons include the San Diego Rockets (1967–1971). Pelicans seasons include the New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005, 2007–2013) and New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2005–2007).

Careers from English Wikipedia's player infoboxes (CC BY-SA 4.0); player ids from Wikidata (CC0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams; AllStar Grid is not affiliated with the NBA or any team. Logos via TheSportsDB. Credits