Executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars made clear at media day that the New Orleans Pelicans are prioritizing culture and mindset over any specific win total as the team begins the Jamahl Mosley era. Specifically, the Hall of Famer said the head brass have yet to even discuss potential win total benchmarks for this Zion Williamson-led squad.

Just get into the dance. That is Mosley and Williamson's NBA Playoffs demand from the bosses.

“I don’t think we ever talked about numbers like 50 wins,” Dumars admitted when asked by ClutchPoints. “We are just trying to make it, man. Because you never know how the season is going to turn out and what it’s going to take to try to get to the playoffs. You never know what it’s going to take; you just want to be one of those teams.”

Instead, Dumars has repeatedly stressed the importance of attitude and gratitude throughout the organization. He has delivered the same message to everyone earning a paycheck, not just the players.

“I said this to Coach Mosley,” Dumars began, “I said this to the players, and I don’t want to get into a rant, but I have said this to a lot of people in the building. I look at them and say, ‘You should come in here every day grateful, happy, upbeat that you get to do this.' And for most people in the building, I said, ‘Wasn’t this what you prayed for? Man, I want to make it one day. Man, God, I want to make it one day' right?”

“If you get that, it’s your obligation to treat it the right way,” stressed Dumars. “So we have had this conversation before. Where you’re getting to live your dream, like this is what you asked for as a kid. You grew up like, ‘Man, if I could just make it to the NBA…' You’re here now! So don’t come in with your head down; keep your head up. This is a word I use all the time in the building; you got to have a good spirit. You got to have a good spirit to do this. I believe in that. I say that when there are no cameras around.”

Dumars then told ClutchPoints a turning point story that helped Jeremiah Fears close his rookie season strong.

“I’m talking to people about having a good spirit. I remember last season, in the middle of the season, at one point Jeremiah was struggling,” Dumars said. “I saw him walking two or three days with his head down. I called him into my office, and I said, ‘Get your spirit right. He said, ‘What do you mean?'”

“Your spirit. Basketball will get better. Don’t worry about it; you’re going to play well, but your spirit got to be right,” explained Dumars. “I believe in that. I believe that. I’ve been in this NBA for a minute now, right? You have to have good spirit to do this thing, to have success, and I believe that.”

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As for any regrets about his move from the NBA league office to the Pelicans?

“Coming from the league office to here, I'm telling you, and I still tell my folks in New York, I love being in New Orleans,” shared Dumars. “I absolutely love being in New Orleans. It couldn’t have turned out better to be here, more than anywhere else. I’m super super happy to be here and be a part of this organization. Gayle Benson has been incredible since I’ve been here, so it couldn’t have turned out better for me. I don’t know if I would have left the league office for anywhere else than here.”

That same challenge Fears faced applies to an entire organization. The Pelicans cannot afford to confuse a good spirit with a successful season, but Dumars believes the former is a prerequisite for achieving the latter. Mosley will ultimately be evaluated by wins, losses, and postseason progress, just like every other NBA head coach.

For now, however, Dumars is asking this Zion Williamson-led locker room to master something that does not appear in the standings. Show up grateful. Compete with purpose. Keep your head up when things get difficult. The victories, Dumars believes, have a better chance of following when the spirit is right.