The New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets are the last two winless teams in the NBA after six games into the 2025-26 season. Both squads sit at 0-6, with the Pelicans facing a tougher path to contention in the West and the Nets embracing a rebuild through the draft. Analysts predict the Pelicans will secure their first victory sooner due to superior talent.
Two weeks into the 2025-26 NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets remain the only winless teams, each at 0-6. This marks a challenging start for both, though their approaches differ significantly. The Pelicans entered the year aiming to compete now, but injuries and poor performances have derailed them. Key free agent Kevon Looney missed the first five games with a knee injury, while recent signees Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, acquired in a trade for CJ McCollum, are shooting under 38% from the field. Trey Murphy III has struggled, going 5 of 17 (29.4%) on non-restricted area paint attempts, and Zion Williamson has been merely adequate. Rookie Derik Queen, selected No. 13 after draft-night trades, saw his minutes drop to 6:51 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pelicans rank 27th in offensive rating (106.8), 29th in defensive rating (124.2), and 30th in net rating (-17.4), worse than the 2012 Charlotte Bobcats' -15 net rating. They have lost three of the league's six games decided by 30 or more points.
In contrast, the Nets are intentionally tanking to improve draft position. They made history in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting five first-rounders: Egor Dëmin (No. 8), Drake Powell (No. 22), Nolan Traore (No. 19), Ben Saraf (No. 26), and Danny Wolf (No. 27). The team's oldest player is 29-year-old Terance Mann, and rookie Ben Saraf leads with 3.2 assists per game in just over 18 minutes, ranking 99th league-wide. They sit 23rd in offensive rating (112.9), 30th in defensive (128.6), and 29th in net (-15.7).
Coach Jordi Fernández expressed frustration after a 24-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, saying, "We go back to the same with poor defensive effort. I'm failing at trying to get my guys to play hard... I'm not living with this result because the effort is not there and the defense is not there."
The Pelicans face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, followed by softer matchups against the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Nets play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday without Anthony Edwards, then the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors. Pelicans coach Willie Green is on the hot seat, while Fernández is not.
Long-term, Pelicans executive Joe Dumars' trades, including sending future picks for Queen, have raised concerns, especially with the Pacers at 1-5. Nets GM Sean Marks emphasized development: "Success for us looks like, 'How do we find, how do we determine who are the next Nets?'" The Nets hold promising future picks and cap flexibility with only $36 million guaranteed past 2027.