DETROIT – He left in a trade more than three years ago, but Quincy Pondexter never completely dissolved some of his ties with the New Orleans franchise. Whenever Pondexter’s Memphis Grizzlies played a game in the Crescent City, the small forward caught up with many of the people he first met during his rookie NBA season of 2010-11. He’s regularly watched Pelicans games on television, keeping tabs on how his former team was progressing.
Which explains why when the 26-year-old met with the media after Tuesday’s Pelicans practice at Oakland (Mich.) University, Pondexter described New Orleans as what had been his “second home” in the NBA. The University of Washington product officially rejoined the Pelicans on Monday, as part of a three-team trade that sent guards Austin Rivers and Russ Smith to other NBA squads.
“It’s unbelievable,” Pondexter said of returning to the same franchise where he began his pro career. “This game takes you full circle sometimes. To be back with Monty (Williams) and Dell (Demps) and the guys, there’s no place I’d rather be right now. (New Orleans) was always a second home in the league. I’m glad to be back.”
After a rookie campaign in which he played 66 regular season games and three postseason contests for the then-Hornets, Pondexter was unexpectedly traded on Christmas Eve 2011, in exchange for point guard Greivis Vasquez. It was a trade based largely on positional need: Memphis was seeking more help at the wing positions, while New Orleans was about to enter the lockout-shortened season with only one point guard on its in-flux roster, Jarrett Jack. The trade ultimately ended up benefiting both teams, with Pondexter developing into a key reserve for the Grizzlies, while Vasquez eventually became a starter for NOLA.
“I don’t think they wanted to get rid of me one bit,” Pondexter said of the impetus behind the original 2011 trade. “I just felt like Monty and Dell had unfinished business with me. So when they had the opportunity to get me again (this time), we have a lot of history. We were so close that first year and were a family, and we still are. We kept in contact and every time I saw (Williams), I always looked up to him.”
The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder becomes the lone current New Orleans player who has participated in the playoffs with the franchise. He was a reserve on the ’10-11 squad that went 46-36 in the regular season, then lost 4-2 to the Los Angeles in the first round of the Western Conference bracket. Pondexter’s NBA teams have qualified for the postseason in every year of his previous four seasons, highlighted by Memphis reaching the West finals vs. San Antonio in ’13.
“It’s great to be back and hopefully we can get back to that playoff level,” Pondexter said of his return to New Orleans. “We’re right there. We’ve got some great talent. I think we can do it this year. It’s not wait until a couple more years from now; I think we have the ability to do it right now.”
The Fresno, Calif., native has one ex-teammate on the current Pelicans roster, Dante Cunningham; they played together for one season in Memphis. Otherwise the entire New Orleans squad has changed completely from his last stint in the Big Easy, though he was briefly a teammate of Eric Gordon during the abbreviated '11 training camp.
Pondexter also has changed, from a 22-year-old first-round pick fresh out of college to a fifth-year veteran with over 200 games of NBA experience, including 25 playoff games. That ranks him fourth on the Pelicans for most postseason experience, behind only Omer Asik (33 games) and John Salmons (28).
“I’ve grown up a lot. I’ve matured,” Pondexter said. “On this team I’ll probably be more of a veteran than most of the guys. I’ve seen what it takes to win games. I’ve went to the Western Conference finals. I’ve been to the playoffs every year since. Memphis taught me a lot. It was truly a blessing. Hopefully I can bring those winning ways to New Orleans.”