Pelicans exit interview recap | Injury bug bites them again

The New Orleans Pelicans wrapped up their 2023-24 season with exit interviews on Tuesday.

Executive Vice President of Basketball Operation David Griffin, head coach Willie Green, and every player spoke with the media.

"Obviously disappointed to be doing this today," Griffin said.

Although the end result was disappointing to many, the team reached the postseason for the second time in three seasons after finishing the regular season at 49-33. 

"Every story doesn't have a good ending," Ingram said.

Those 49 wins are the second most in the franchise's history, but they didn't mean as much this year in the stacked Western Conference. If the Pels were in the Eastern Conference, they would have finished third, and 49 wins last season in the West would've earned them the 3-seed.

"I think the 49 wins... are part of several things that happened this year that would have led you to believe we'd be playing deep into the summer at times," Griffin said. "I think there were times where very large chunks of the season for months at a time where we had the second best net rating in the league, and were not for Boston, we would have looked like the best team in the league for stretches."

Griffin also said there were stretches during the year when you could see the team had a lot of room for growth and improvement. 

Backup center Larry Nance gave one of the most honest answers on the team's chances to get better.

"We're not close, we're not close. We were building into it that BI hurt himself in Orlando, and when BI gets back, Z hurt himself," Nance said. "It's just, you know, we were taking punch after punch, and it's unfortunate that it just seems to be the bug that's bitten us the past few years."

Unfortunately, fans won't get to see that improvement until next season. 

One positive this season was the team's health. Their big three, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram, were the healthiest they've been since the trio joined forces.

"We figured it out a little bit ... the more we're on the court together, the better we are," Williamson said.

Although Williamson's season ended with a hamstring injury, he played 70 games, the most of his career.

"Getting him [Williamson] to play a career-high number of games was exciting for us," Griffin said. "And when I say getting him to. Him doing the work to get to that point was exciting. He did a remarkable job this year."

McCollum and Ingram both played over 60 games, and starting center Jonas Valanciunas played in all 82 games. 

"I'm really happy about that. As tired as I am, I'm very happy. I prioritize myself on being available every day, every game," Valanciunas said. 

McCollum and Williamson briefly reflected on what their first-round series could have been if Williamson wasn't injured. "You can't worry about coulda, shoulda, wouldas," McCollum said.

"It would have been different, but we live in reality," Williamson said.