NBA commissioner David Stern, in a press conference at New Orleans Arena, said he has no objection to the Hornets changing their nickname.

Reports surfaced on Tuesday that the team was changing the name to the New Orleans Pelicans, beginning in the 2013-14 season.

Stern said that whatever works for the teams, works for him.

Team owner Tom Benson owned the rights to the name Pelicans, which was the name of the city’s minor league baseball team from 1887-1959 and 1977.

The Brown Pelican is the state bird of Louisiana.

… [For more on David Stern said New Orleans Hornets can change the name, click here.]