The New Orleans Pelicans will enter a crucial season after falling short of expecations last year.
The Pelicans were expected to make some noise in the Western Conference last year after trading for Dejounte Murray. However, injuries derailed the Pelicans quickly and often, leading to a finish with the second-worst record in the conference at 21-61. Now, as the 2025-26 season rolls around, all eyes are on their superstar forward, Zion Williamson.
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The two-time All-Star will enter his seventh season in New Orleans. Williamson came into New Orleans with high hopes as the No. 1 pick out of Duke in 2019, but it has been marred by numerous shortcomings and, more importantly, injuries.
Health and weight issues have been a significant problem for Williamson, but it appears that those days are behind him. Or at least that’s the case to start the season if you ask Pelicans vice president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars.
In a press conference on Monday, Dumars said that he has loved what he has seen from Williamson in every aspect.
“You don’t get to be great and not responsible… It’s not enough just to be talented. There is a difference between talent and great, those are two different things,” Dumars said. “He’s been great… I’ve not had any issues with him… I have seen him for the last month in and out of the facility, really pushing himself hard.”
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When Williamson is on the court, he is a force to be reckoned with as an easily All-NBA type of player. However, he’s had trouble staying on the court, missing roughly 60 to 62 percent of games in his career. The Pelicans have made the playoffs twice as a member of the team, but he has yet to play in a playoff game.
The South Carolina native has played in 214 games out of a possible 471 games in his career. Williamson has suffered through numerous injuries, and many have linked it to his lack of conditioning.
As things stand and according to Dumars, that should be a different story this season. Not many are high on the Pelicans, and with trade rumors swirling around his future in New Orleans, there could be a chance that he has a new home by the end of the season.
The truth is, he’ll be out to prove people wrong this season and remind everyone why he once drew comparisons to future Hall of Famer LeBron James.
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