NEW ORLEANS -- There were two familiar, recently traded faces sitting courtside Tuesday night for the New Orleans Pelicans' matchup against the Houston Rockets.
Guards Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, whom the Pelicans traded earlier in the day to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Tomas Satoransky and Didi Louzada for CJ McCollum, Tony Snell and Larry Nance Jr., decided to sit courtside Tuesday to see their former teammates one more time before heading to the Pacific Northwest.
Both players were informed of the trade at Tuesday morning's shootaround and spoke to teammates then but decided to come to the game. Alexander-Walker told ESPN he "just needed to say goodbye to everyone."
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"That was special," Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram said. "It kind of shows the organization that we want to be identified as. Having those guys here and actually being a brother outside of basketball, just really getting along with each other, that was special. It shows their character, too, being traded on this day and supporting the guys they've been with. That's special."
Ingram said he found out they might attend the game from the Pelicans' staff because Alexander-Walker had his tickets. Ingram said it was shocking.
"It meant the world to me to see Josh and Nickeil on the sideline still cheering us on," Ingram said.
Sitting courtside tonight 👏 #Respect pic.twitter.com/166u1JajVl
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 9, 2022
Hart, who wore Ingram's jersey, entered the arena just after tipoff, while Alexander-Walker showed up at halftime of the Pelicans' 110-97 win. The two sat next to each other across from the Rockets' bench.
"It was just weird seeing them on the sideline after being on the floor with them," Ingram said. "I definitely loved the support. I think I would've done the same thing [for Hart] if I was in his shoes."
Following the game, the entire Pelicans roster and coach Willie Green made their way across the court to speak with Hart and Alexander-Walker.
"Those guys mean a lot to us, Josh, Nickeil, Didi, Sato," Green said. "To have guys show up to a game after they've been traded to support their brothers, that's what we've been trying to build. That's what we are building, just that connectivity."
Green said he knew it was a possibility that Hart and Alexander-Walker could show up to the game but still didn't expect it.
"I just had never heard of anything like that, so I wasn't really aware of how to feel or how to proceed," Green added. "I'm happy that Josh and Nickeil decided to come because it just speaks volume of who they are but also the bonds and the relationships that they've built here."
Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes said it was an emotional day saying goodbye to his teammates both at shootaround and then again at the game. He was drafted with Alexander-Walker in 2019, the same year Hart was traded to New Orleans.
"It felt weird. When I went out on the court today it still felt weird without those two because they've been here every game I've been at here. Just looking out and seeing them there, I was like, 'What the heck? This is so weird,'" Hayes said.
"That's our organization. Taking everybody in and treating them like a brother," - Brandon Ingram
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 9, 2022
The entire #Pelicans squad shows love to @joshhart and @NickeilAW after the win 👏 pic.twitter.com/11U5sQDc5a
The Pelicans and Trail Blazers play twice more this season -- in Portland on March 30 and in New Orleans on April 7. When asked what it would be like to go against his former teammates, Ingram cracked a big smile.
"I really haven't thought about it but as a competitor, knowing myself, I'ma tell you I'ma bust they ass," Ingram said. "It's gonna be fun. I know the scouting report on both of them."