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Pelicans players Larry Nance Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, Naji Marshall, Jordan Hawkins and CJ McCollum share their tips on handling stress for Get Fit Friday presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

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Pelicans players tips for handling stress | Get Fit Friday

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Jim Eichenhofer

Age: 32NBA experience: Twelve seasons (three with Pelicans)Games played/games started: 82/82Key stats: 12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 55.9 FG percentage

Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas’ 2023-24 NBA season overview

An ironman campaign for the native of Lithuania was highlighted by the center playing in all 82 games, meaning the Pelicans could count on their starting pivot to be there every night. Less reliable was the specific role Valanciunas filled, with his minutes per game going from 25.5 prior to the All-Star break to 19.3 following the midseason hiatus. As a result, his counting stats took a similar dip. Through that decrease, Valanciunas never complained and remained a true professional, focusing on what he could do to contribute on or off the court. “I’m a team player,” he said during April 30 exit interviews. “Whatever it takes. The big picture is winning. We didn’t do that this year enough. As I said to the coaching staff, I’m here to help. I’m here to do everything to win games. Stats are not important when you look at the (team) record.” Valanciunas, who will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, was uncertain about what the future holds, but described 2023-24 as more positive than negative. “It was a good season,” he described. “At moments we were really good. It was ups and downs, like every season. But I love the group I played with. We did some great stuff on the court. It was memorable.”

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Jonas Valanciunas' Top Plays | 2023‑24 NBA Season Highlights

Jonas Valanciunas' Pelicans Podcast recap

Voice of the Pelicans Todd Graffagnini recaps New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas' 2023-24 NBA season.

Jonas Valanciunas' per-game stats from the 2023-24 NBA season

Shooting splits prior to the All-Star break, in 55 games played (New Orleans went 33-22). Those Valanciunas splits were 52/22/74 in his 27 post-break games (16-11).

New Orleans record when he scored 18-plus points. Only one of those 14 instances occurred in March or April.

New Orleans record when he grabbed 12-plus rebounds. None of those 19 instances occurred in March or April.

Jonas Valanciunas’ three most notable games

#1, Dec. 15, New Orleans 112, Charlotte 107

Two double-digit scoring halves resulted in a season-high 29 points, with the Pelicans repeatedly going to him on the low block. He dominated the paint with 13 rebounds and two blocks.

Pelicans center scored 29 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, threw four assists and blocked two shots during the New Orleans Pelicans game against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Dec. 15 in Spectrum Center.

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Pelicans Stat Leader Highlights: Jonas Valanciunas scores 29 vs. Charlotte Hornets 12/15/23

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas' postgame interview after the Pelicans' win against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Dec. 15 during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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Jonas Valanciunas on his performance, passes down the stretch | Pelicans vs. Hornets Postgame Interview 12/15/2

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado's postgame interview after the Pelicans' win against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Dec. 15 during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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Jose Alvarado talks Jonas Valanciunas' performance, depth | Pelicans vs. Hornets Postgame Interview 12/15/23

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Postgame wrap: Pelicans 112, Hornets 107

The Pelicans entered this divisional matchup at just 26-21, but their first win against the Rockets began a surge of 16 victories over the next 21 games. Valanciunas outplayed fellow international big Alperen Sengun by rolling to 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Highlights from New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas scoring 25 points against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Jan. 31 during 2023-24 NBA season.

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Highlights: Jonas Valanciunas scores 25 points at Houston Rockets 1/31/2024

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas' postgame interview after the Pelicans' win against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Jan. 31 during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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Jonas Valanciunas talks team-high 25 in win | Pelicans-Rockets Postgame 1/31/2024

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum's postgame interview after the Pelicans' win against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Jan. 31 during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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CJ McCollum talks Jonas, bench in win | Pelicans-Rockets Postgame 1/31/2024

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Postgame wrap: Pelicans 110, Rockets 99

Speaking of meetings with international bigs, Valanciunas registered 22 points and eight rebounds vs. Nikola Jokic, as the Pelicans posted a vital In-Season Tournament pool play victory. Jokic notched a gaudy 26-16-18 line, but in a defeat.

Pelicans Stat Leader Highlights: Jonas Valanciunas with 22 Points vs. Denver Nuggets

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Jonas Valanciunas blocks Nikola Jokic during Pelicans vs Nuggets on 11/17/23

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Jonas Valanciunas blocks Nikola Jokic | Pelicans vs Nuggets 11/17/23

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green talks to the team postgame in the Pelicans locker room after their In-Season Tournament win against the Denver Nuggets during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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Inside the Pelicans locker room postgame after win vs. Denver Nuggets 11/17/2023

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NBA In-Season Tournament postgame wrap: Pelicans 115, Nuggets 110

Jonas Valanciunas’ player participation report

Valanciunas was one of 17 NBA players who played in 82 games (or more – Buddy Hield led the league with 84, split between Indiana and Philadelphia), again proving his durability. Valanciunas also led New Orleans in games played during the 2022-23 season (tied with Trey Murphy with 79). “I’m really happy about that,” Valanciunas said during April 30 exit interviews of his perfect attendance. “As tired as I am (physically), I’m very happy. I prioritize myself being available every day and every game.”

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Jonas Valanciunas | 2023-24 NBA Season in Review

Check out highlights of New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas's top plays of the 2023-24 NBA season! Part of our Pelicans 2023-24 NBA season player recaps.

On the latest New Orleans Pelicans Podcast from Friday, May 10, 2024, Jim Eichenhofer and Gus Kattengell are joined by the voice of the Pelicans Todd Graffagnini to discuss Jonas Valanciunas' 2023-2024 NBA season as we continue with our Pelicans roster season recaps.

LISTEN ABOVE OR CLICK HERE FOR FULL PODCAST >>

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Jonas Valanciunas’ 2023-24 NBA season recap | Pelicans Podcast

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Herb Jones’ 2023-24 NBA season recap | Pelicans Podcast

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CJ McCollum’s 2023-24 NBA season recap | Pelicans Podcast

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Brandon Ingram's 2023-24 NBA season recap | Pelicans Podcast

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Zion Williamson's 2023-24 NBA season recap | Pelicans Podcast

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Pelicans Season Recap, NBA Playoffs vs. OKC Thunder | Pelicans Podcast

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Pelicans must-win Game 4, adjustments vs. OKC Thunder | Pelicans Podcast

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Pelicans Radio Roundtable on Game 3 vs. OKC Thunder | Pelicans Podcast

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David Wesley on evolution of playoff basketball, Game 2 at Thunder | Pelicans Podcast

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Thunder vs. Pelicans Game 1 recap, look ahead to remaining games | Pelicans Podcast

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Pelicans vs. Kings Play-In, radio roundtable playoff draft | Pelicans Podcast

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Pelicans vs. Kings preview, Zion Williamson's Play-In performance | Pelicans Podcast

Pelicans Podcast

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Photos: Jonas Valanciunas 2023‑24 Season in Review

Check out highlights of New Orleans Pelicans guard Herb Jones' top plays of the 2023-24 NBA season! Part of our Pelicans 2023-24 NBA season player recaps.

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Herb Jones' Top Plays | 2023‑24 NBA Season Highlights

Age: 25NBA experience: Three seasons (three with Pelicans)Games played/games started: 76/76Key stats: 11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 49.8 FG percentage, 41.8 three-point percentage, 86.7 FT percentage

Pelicans guard Herb Jones’ 2023-24 NBA season overview

If you had asked New Orleans fans and media members prior to the season which Pelicans player had the best chance to emerge as a 50/40/90 shooter, answers such as Trey Murphy and CJ McCollum would’ve been extremely common. After all, the pair of offensive threats are among the NBA’s elite perimeter marksmen. As it turned out, Jones came the closest among the Pelicans to achieving the rare statistical feat, turning in splits (see above) of 50/42/87. The latter percentages represented gigantic improvements for Jones, who had finished at 47/34/76 in 2022-23.

Asked during April 30 exit interviews how he was able to make that leap shooting-wise, the often-understated Jones replied, “Continue to trust the work. Staying in the gym, continuing to play with a ton of confidence.”

Jones again established himself as a bona fide First-Team All-Defense candidate, spearheading New Orleans to a No. 6 ranking in defensive efficiency for a second straight season. That led to his second playoff trip in three seasons, though a 4-0 sweep vs. Oklahoma City meant a difficult close to Year 3.

“I think everybody’s a little disappointed in the way things ended, but I also think we did improve, competed and played really hard this year,” he said. “You’ve got to be OK with going out and putting forth your best effort, and coming up short.

“As long as we continue to work, I think the sky’s the limit. We’ve got to come back in the summer, continue to work hard and continue to build on what we’ve been building.”

Team reporter Erin Summers recaps New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones' 2023-24 NBA season.

Herb Jones' per-game stats from the 2023-24 NBA season

Team-leading charges drawn by Jones. Via NBA.com’s hustle stats section, he also led the Pelicans in deflections (195), defensive loose balls recovered (29) and contested three-point shots (257), some of which he also blocked.

Jones three-pointers made this season. He sank a total of 113 combined over the previous two campaigns (57 as a rookie, then 56 in Year 2).

Jones percentage from the foul line in home games, perhaps partly related to him spending extra time shooting in the Blender on non-game nights. He made 70 of his 78 foul shots at home.

#1, Feb. 22, New Orleans 127, Houston 105

The Rockets were a thorn in the sides of the Pelicans early in 2023-24, but Jones tormented the Southwest Division foe by coming out of the All-Star break with a season-best seven steals, along with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Forward/guard Herb Jones scored 17 points and had a career high seven steals during the New Orleans Pelicans game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Feb. 22 in the Smoothie King Center.

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Pelicans Stat Leader Highlights: Herb Jones with 17 points, career high 7 steals vs. Houston Rockets

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson recaps the win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

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Zion Williamson talks Herb Jones defense, victory | Pelicans vs Rockets Postgame 2/22/2024

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum recaps the win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

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CJ McCollum talks team defense, Herb Jones being vocal | Pelicans vs Rockets Postgame 2/22/2024

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Postgame wrap: Pelicans 127, Rockets 105

By now, you know all about “Not On Herb.” This was “not-missing-a-shot Herb.” Jones factored into the Pelicans’ highest-scoring game in team history by going 8/9 from the field, 4/4 on threes and 2/2 from the foul line in his 22-point night.

Highlights from New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones vs. the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Jan. 23 during 2023-24 NBA season.

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Highlights: Herbert Jones with 22 points vs. Utah Jazz 1/24/2024

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones' postgame interview after the Pelicans' win against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Jan. 23 during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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Herb Jones talks franchise record vs. Utah | Pelicans-Jazz Postgame Interview 1/23/2024

Highlights from New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones changing the momentum of the game with a series of great plays against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Jan. 23 during 2023-24 NBA season.

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Herb Jones changes the momentum vs. Utah on crazy series of plays | Pelicans-Jazz Highlights 1/23/2024

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Postgame wrap: Pelicans 153, Jazz 124

#3, Dec 4, New Orleans 127, Sacramento 117

The Pelicans went 6-0 against the Kings, including advancing to the In-Season Tournament semifinals with this victory. It marked Jones’ season high in scoring (23 points). He added five boards, five assists and two blocks.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones tallied 23 points in the team's In-Season Tournament quarterfinals win against the Sacramento Kings.

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In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals Highlights: Herb Jones scores 23 points vs. Sacramento Kings 12/4/23

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green's postgame interview after the Pelicans' In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Dec. 4 during the 2023-24 NBA season.

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Willie Green on NBA In-Season Tournament win | Pelicans-Kings Postgame Interview 12/4/23

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Photos: Pelicans at Kings | In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals 12/4/23

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NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinal postgame wrap: Pelicans 127, Kings 117

Herb Jones’ player participation report

After appearing in 76 regular season games, Jones has now been on the floor for 89 percent of New Orleans’ contests over his three pro seasons (220 of 246 possible tilts). Counting the NBA postseason, he was only sidelined for three of the club’s final 78 contests. He finished second on the Pelicans in games played, behind only Jonas Valanciunas (82).

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Herb Jones | 2023-24 NBA Season in Review

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Photos: Herb Jones 2023‑24 Season in Review

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