If you’ve ever spent five minutes scrolling through New Orleans Pelicans Twitter, you know it’s not like other corners of the internet. It is a weird, chaotic, and fiercely loyal ecosystem. One second you're looking at a serious injury report about Zion Williamson's hamstring, and the next, you’re watching a deep-fried video of a pelican eating a fish set to "Casanova."
It’s niche. It’s loud. And honestly? It’s probably the only reason some fans haven't lost their minds during the team's more "challenging" seasons.
The Pels12—the self-proclaimed name for the fanbase on X (formerly Twitter)—operates with the chip-on-the-shoulder energy that only a small-market team in a "football town" can have. They know the national media usually forgets they exist until there’s a trade rumor involving their best player. They don’t care. In fact, they lean into it.
What makes New Orleans Pelicans Twitter so different?
Most NBA fanbases are content with highlights and the occasional "W" post. Not this one. New Orleans culture is built on the idea of making a party out of anything, and that translates directly to their digital footprint.
Take the official team account, for example. The Pelicans' social media team is legendary for being "unserious" in the best way possible. Remember when they went back and forth with Stephen A. Smith after he took shots at Zion’s weight? They didn't just post a PR statement. They posted a highlight reel of Smith’s own college basketball "stats" (which were, let’s say, less than stellar).
That’s the soul of New Orleans Pelicans Twitter. It’s a mix of high-level basketball analysis and absolute petty chaos.
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But it’s the fans who really drive the engine. You have people like Shamit Dua and Mason Ginsberg from the In the NOLA circle, who provide the kind of cap-sheet analysis and deep-dive logic that makes you feel like you’ve earned a PhD in sports management. Then you have the meme lords. The accounts that drop 10-second clips of Herb Jones locking up a superstar, captioned with nothing but "Not On Herb."
The "Not On Herb" Phenomenon
If you aren't following the "Not On Herb" movement, are you even a fan? Herb Jones became a cult hero on Twitter before he was a household name in the league. The fans spotted his defensive genius early and turned it into a digital wall.
Every time a star player tries to drive on Herb and gets stuffed, the timeline erupts. It’s a shared language. It’s a way for a small fanbase to say, "We see what you're doing, and we're better than you think."
The voices you actually need to follow
If you want the real experience, you can't just follow the official NBA account and call it a day. You need the boots on the ground.
- Will Guillory (@WillGuillory): The gold standard. If Will says it, it’s probably happening. He covers the team for The Athletic and manages to balance being an objective reporter with someone who actually understands the city's vibe.
- Christian Clark (@cclark3000): The NOLA.com beat writer who isn't afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions in the post-game pressers. His Twitter feed is essential for injury updates and roster moves.
- Jake Madison (@lockedonpels): Host of the Locked On Pelicans podcast. His Twitter is basically a 24/7 support group for fans. He’s the guy you go to when you need to know why the rotation looked so weird in the fourth quarter.
- Rel (@relmyers): One of the most positive voices in the community. She’s a huge part of the "Pels 12" branding and often helps organize local watch parties.
There are dozens of others, but these are the pillars. They keep the conversation going when the team is 10 games under .500 and when they’re fighting for a top-four seed in the West.
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The dark side of the timeline
Let’s be real: it’s not all gumbo and rainbows. New Orleans Pelicans Twitter can get toxic. Fast.
When the Zion Williamson rumors start swirling—you know the ones, the "he wants to be in New York" or "he's not focused" narratives—the timeline becomes a battlefield. You’ll see fans arguing with national "insiders" who haven't stepped foot in the Smoothie King Center in years.
There’s a collective defensiveness that comes from years of being the "little brother" in the NBA. It’s exhausting, but it’s also what makes the community so tight-knit. They’re the only ones who truly get the frustration of a "questionable" injury designation or a blown 20-point lead.
Navigating the memes and the "Vibes"
You haven't lived until you've seen the "Pelicans Win" video after a massive upset. It’s usually a chaotic montage of the mascot, Pierre, doing something terrifying, players dancing, and local New Orleans icons.
It’s about the "vibes." In New Orleans, the vibes are a tangible currency.
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When the team is winning, the Twitter feed feels like a parade on St. Charles Avenue. When they lose? It feels like a rainy Tuesday in August. But the consistency of the humor is what keeps people coming back. It’s a self-deprecating, self-aware style of fandom.
They know they aren't the Lakers. They know they aren't the Celtics. And they honestly wouldn't want to be. There’s something special about being part of a group that actually cares about the 12th man on the bench as much as the superstar.
Why you should join the flock
If you’re a new fan, or just someone looking to understand the league better, jumping into this community is a crash course in loyalty. You’ll learn about the "Twelve," you'll learn why we call him "Grand Theft Alvarado," and you'll definitely learn to never, ever doubt Herb Jones.
It’s a small community, which means your voice actually gets heard. You can reply to a beat writer and actually get a response. You can start a "Spaces" conversation and have fifty people join in to talk about backup center rotations. It’s accessible in a way that Big Market Twitter just isn't.
Actionable steps for the Pels fan on X
To get the most out of your experience and help the community grow, you should actively curate your feed. Don't just follow everyone with a bird emoji in their bio.
- Create a "Pels" List: Twitter lists are the best way to cut through the noise. Add the beat writers, the analysts, and a few of the top meme accounts. This way, during a game, you can switch to that list and avoid the general NBA Twitter chaos.
- Engage with the "Pels 12" hashtag: It’s the easiest way to find fellow fans. If you’re at a game, post your view. The community is remarkably good at boosting local content.
- Support the creators: Many of the best Pelicans "reporters" are actually independent bloggers or podcasters. Share their links. It’s hard to cover a small-market team, and your engagement keeps that coverage alive.
- Keep it civil (mostly): It’s okay to be a "homer," but the best parts of New Orleans Pelicans Twitter are the actual basketball discussions. Don't be the person who just trolls other fanbases. We're better than that.
The team might fluctuate, and players might come and go, but the digital "Flock" is a constant. It’s the heartbeat of the franchise, one 280-character post at a time.