The New Orleans Pelicans are entering the 2025-26 season carrying an intent to bounce back as a contender. And a big narrative in that mission will be the one around Zion Williamson. Will the former No. 1 overall pick stay healthy enough to help his team get to the playoffs?
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Zion came into the NBA in 2019 with a lot of fanfare. And for good reason. When he’s on the floor, the star forward commands a dominant presence. In 214 career games, he has averaged 24.7 PPG. The problem is that he’s only played in 214 games in six years.
Of course, all it takes is one season to silence the doubters, and Zion is hoping the coming year will be his. It’s about time, feels NBA insider Brian Windhorst, who has warned the superstar that he needs to make things happen on the court or risk losing the franchise player status at The Big Easy.
“Actions have to carry over words at this point. The reality is this. 99% of NBA players’ teams would have moved on over the last six years. Because Zion Williamson is so immensely talented, the Pelicans stick with him as their hopeful franchise player,” stated Windhorst on ESPN.
How his injury-plagued career has shaped up, it feels as if the ship should have sailed on Williamson years ago. He is, of course, incredibly talented, like Windy suggested. But he has also become a liability.
If he doesn’t perform well this year, he’s going to have to earn that trust back in a smaller role, maybe even at another team. “This is probably it. If he wants it to work in New Orleans, it’s got to be now. It’s got to show up in this season,” Windhorst added.
However, Windhorst is uncertain how to define the success benchmark for the Pelicans. They have several new players, with Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney being notable additions, and some are coming back from injuries. Are they competing, or will they just barely hold on and fight for a spot in the play-ins again? What would amount to success?
“Defining success for the Pelicans is tough. They’ve got four different players coming off surgery. This seems like a thing that always happens to them. It’s happening again. They need Zion Williamson to do it now,” said Windhorst.
To further drive home his point, Windhorst brought up what he knows best: The business side of basketball. He explained how Zion won’t be able to make the big bucks unless he performs well.
“He’s got almost $90 million over the next two seasons that are non-guaranteed. The Pelicans can cut him. In the apron era, that’s something they could do. He would get another job, but he wouldn’t make $90 million, and he wouldn’t be the franchise player. He’s got a lot to play for,” elaborated Windhorst.
Zion’s future in New Orleans hinges on how he performs this season. The Pelicans have waited longer than most teams would, and now the pressure, both on the court and in their bank account, is real. If he can finally stay healthy and dominate, Williamson will reestablish himself as the franchise star. If not, well…
