Victor Oladipo and DeMarcus Cousins have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 2 (Oct. 23-Oct.29).

Oladipo averaged 28.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over three games last week. He shot 60.4 percent from the field, 60 percent from 3-point range, and 95 percent from the free throw line while leading the Pacers to a 2-1 record.

Cousins averaged 36.3 points on .544 shooting from the floor, 16.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks.

DeMarcus Cousins scored 41 points and 23 rebounds in his first game back in Sacramento as the New Orleans Pelicans had a 114-106 comeback win over the Kings.

Cousins was traded to the Pelicans in February by the Kings. Cousins was drafted by Sacramento in 2010.

"It was pretty emotional," Cousins said. "I was super nervous coming in. The anticipation was like through the roof. I really couldn't wait for the ball to go up and we could just actually get to the basketball part."

A video and highlight tribute to Cousins played on the scoreboard during a first-quarter timeout as he was formally welcomed back.

"I loved it," Cousins said. "I've got nothing but love for this city. I came here as a kid and left as a man. As I stated many times, I've got people here I consider family. These fans have been great to me throughout the years."

The New Orleans Pelicans have a pair of dominant big men in a league that has moved towards multi-dimensional guards and wings.

The Pelicans acquired DeMarcus Cousins last February to pair with Anthony Davis.

“It really has become a guard-oriented league,” Alvin Gentry said. “Look at Washington’s backcourt and Portland’s backcourt. We’re bucking the trend and seeing if we can start a fad of our own by playing big guys and trying to take advantage of mismatches.”

“There’s very few bigs in the league compared to 20 years ago,” Steve Kerr said, referring to the Pelicans as an anomaly. “Who else is going to get two bigs like these guys? They present a challenge because they make us play a different style of defense than what we’ve grown accustomed to.”

The Pelicans acquired Cousins because he was an available talent and not to purposely go against the trends of the NBA.

“It’s really hard to get elite players,” Dell Demps said. “We had the opportunity to get elite players. That’s where it started.”

Cousins and Davis each have a special set of skills.

“They’re not typical bigs,” Demps said. “They’re both really skilled. They can shoot, they can pass, they can handle the ball, they can make plays for other people. Now, the key is to make it all mesh.”

Josh Smith has agreed to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans under an injury hardship exception.

Smith didn't play in the NBA last season after spending parts of 15-16 with the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets. Smith averaged 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in China.

DeMarcus Cousins regrets not pushing for a trade from the Sacramento Kings in 2015 while feuding with George Karl.

Cousins wanted to remain with the Kings at that time, but he was traded less than two years later ahead of the 2017 trade deadline.

“There were plenty of situations where I’m like, ‘Man, why didn’t you just do it this way?’ ” Cousins recently told ESPN. “And there was plenty of times where I was a victim. But at the end of the day, it’s still on me. My biggest regret is not leaving when I had the chance.

“I had the chance, but I fought it. I had the chance to leave, but I didn’t.”

According to an NBA source, Cousins’ representatives told Kings general manager Vlade Divac after the 2014-15 season that their client wanted to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers but was open to other possible deals.

Cousins ultimately told his representatives and the Kings that he wanted to stay.

“I wanted to give it a chance because my representatives told me I shouldn’t stay,” Cousins said. “I guess you could say I was stubborn and loyal. I wanted to make things work.”

Cousins regrets being loyal to the Kings.

“I kind of blame myself for even putting myself at that point,” Cousins said. “You knew coming in this was a business. How are you going to be loyal to something that ain’t even loyal to any player that’s ever played this game? I was a fool.

“But at the same time, it doesn’t change who I am. … I still live by that code. You’ve just got to learn how to separate business and your personal life. And all that did was teach me a lesson.”

The New Orleans Pelicans and Zatarain’s announced a new integrated marketing partnership featuring the company’s iconic name, brand and logo on the team’s game jerseys beginning with the 2017-18 NBA season. 

In addition to the jersey patch, for every Pelicans slam dunk throughout the season, Zatarain’s will donate meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank charity. Second Harvest operates through food distribution programs, community kitchen meal services, nutritional education, and public benefits assistance.

“This is an opportunity for both the Pelicans and Zatarain’s to further expand our international reach. Gayle and I could not be more pleased to be able to partner with one of the most iconic brands in our community,” said Pelicans Owner Tom Benson. “Being from New Orleans, Zatarain’s has always been a part of my life and I am thrilled about our new partnership.”

Zatarain’s is the premier New Orleans-based food brand and has been making authentic regionally inspired products for over a century. Beginning in the Uptown New Orleans neighborhood in 1889, Zatarain’s has grown to become a world leader in New Orleans-style cooking.

Anthony Davis suffered no damage in his injured left knee after undergoing an MRI.

Davis felt pain in the knee during warmups and then tweaked it in the first quarter of the New Orleans Pelicans' loss at Portland.

Davis is listed as day-to-day.

The New Orleans Pelicans announced have signed Jameer Nelson. 

Nelson, 6-0, 190, most recently played for the Denver Nuggets. In 148 games (59 starts) from 2014-17, Nelson averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds. Last season, Nelson averaged 9.2 points, 5.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 27.3 minutes over 75 games for Denver. 

In a subsequent move, the Pelicans announced the team has waived guard Jordan Crawford. In two games for New Orleans this season, Crawford, 6-4, 195, has averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 18.5 minutes.

DeMarcus Cousins has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language towards a fan.

The incident occurred with 0:50 remaining in the 4th quarter of the Pelicans’ 103-91 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at FedEx Forum.

The Technical Foul which was assessed to Cousins as part of the incident has been rescinded.

Jameer Nelson has agreed to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The Pelicans will waive Jordan Crawford to create a roster spot for Nelson. 

New Orleans is thin at point guard with Ramon Rondo out following sports hernia surgery. 

Denver waived Nelson to create space to sign Richard Jefferson.