In 1947, long before the New Orleans Pelicans, the Jazz, or even the Buccaneers, New Orleans entered the world of professional basketball with the New Orleans Hurricanes, the city's first professional basketball team.
The Hurricanes were members of the Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA), a newly organized league established during the post–World War II expansion of professional sports. The team played its home games at the Coliseum Arena in New Orleans, a venue with seating for approximately 6,000 spectators.
Coached by Herb Pailet, the Hurricanes featured several talented players, including 19-year-old Paul Seymour, who led the team with an average of 14.1 points per game. Seymour would later enjoy a successful career in the National Basketball Association. Other notable Hurricanes included Norm Rosen, Al Ingerman, and Milt Jackson, a former Loyola University New Orleans player.
Unfortunately, the Hurricanes' existence was brief. The financially troubled PBLA collapsed in 1947 before completing its inaugural season. New Orleans finished with a record of three wins and five losses in just eight games.
Despite their short history, the Hurricanes established an important milestone. They introduced professional basketball to New Orleans two decades before the American Basketball Association's Buccaneers arrived in 1967 and nearly three decades before the NBA's New Orleans Jazz began playing in 1974.
Today, the Hurricanes remain a largely forgotten part of Louisiana's sporting heritage. Although they never completed a full season, their place in history is secure: in 1947, the New Orleans Hurricanes became the pioneers of professional basketball in the Crescent City.
Paterson, Seale. “Professional Basketball’s History in New Orleans.” St. Charles Avenue, 1 Mar. 2013, www.myneworleans.com/professional-basketballs-history-in-new-orleans/.“1947–48 New Orleans Hurricanes Statistics.” StatsCrew, www.statscrew.com/basketball/stats/t-NOL/y-1947. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.“1947–48 Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA) Basketball Standings.” StatsCrew, www.statscrew.com/basketball/standings/l-PBLA/y-1947. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.