The New Orleans Pelicans hired Joe Dumars — a former NBA champion as both a player and an executive with the Detroit Pistons — as their executive vice president of basketball operations.

Dumars, 61, takes over for David Griffin, who was fired Monday after a six-year stint that coincided with the drafting of power forward Zion Williamson in 2019.

“I have a great deal of respect for what Joe has already accomplished as a player and executive, but more importantly, I admire his character and leadership,” Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, who also owns the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, said in a written statement coinciding with Wednesday’s announcement. “His vast experience and relationships throughout the NBA, along with his strong leadership qualities, will have a tremendous impact on our organization.”

The Hall of Famer’s decision to join the Pelicans represents a homecoming of sorts. He grew up in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and played college basketball for McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

“This is truly a full circle moment,” Dumars said in a written statement released by the Pelicans. “I grew up as a Saints fan and the first AAU basketball team I played on at 16 years old was based in New Orleans, so this opportunity is very special to me on a personal level.”

Dumars comes to the Pelicans after three years in the NBA office, serving as an executive vice president and helping to oversee, among other things, player discipline.

Butler finds voice with warriors

Two months in and Jimmy Butler has become so comfortable with the Golden State Warriors that he is now shouting when someone takes a bad shot, or he is demanding the ball be in his hands if it has been a possession or two without having touched it.

Draymond Green, for one, is loving how Butler is taking charge — he is Playoff Jimmy after all and this is his time of year. He has earned it. He thrives on the postseason stage.

“He’s different. You can just see a whole different intensity level and focus. I’m a basketball fan and so I’ve watched it on TV for years,” Green said. “To see it up close and personal, it’s a real thing. Sometimes you get in the NBA and these guys get these nicknames and you’re like, ‘Man, stop it.’ There’s some other nicknames out there, they’re not real. That one’s real, and I’m happy he’s on our side.”

On Tuesday night, Butler helped the Warriors finally win a play-in game after going 0-3 in appearances last year and in 2021, so now he is ready to do everything he can to capture a championship and help Steph Curry and Green bring home a fifth title.

With a few days off at last after beating the Grizzlies 121-116, Golden State has some much-needed rest and recovery before traveling to Texas to take on the Rockets. Game 1 in Houston is Sunday.

“I want everybody to be happy, for sure Steph, he deserves it, what he’s done for the game of basketball not only this city and this organization,” Butler said. “He’s in it for the long haul. He wants to win. He wants to win every single game, every single possession.”

Curry turned 37 last month and returning to the playoffs means so much, wrapping up his 16th NBA season after missing out in 2024.

“It’s easy to not take it for granted because we weren’t there last year,” he said. “From 2013 to ’19, we made the Finals runs but we were in the playoffs every year and a two-year stretch where we missed it and then ’22 came around. It’s just a reminder that it’s not guaranteed, I don’t care how talented you are.”