Pelicans forward Zion Williamson assures a ‘changed summer’ ahead.
METAIRIE, La. — Zion Williamson, frustrated with not having participated in a playoff game during his initial seven NBA seasons with New Orleans, is anticipating “a different summer.”
While he is pleased with his durability and availability for the Pelicans this season, Williamson expressed dissatisfaction with his overall performance and was troubled by the fact that the Pelicans secured only 22 victories in the 62 games he played.
“My performance on the court — it was satisfactory,” Williamson, who averaged 21 points per game, stated Monday, following the Pelicans’ conclusion of a second consecutive non-playoff season at 26-56. “I was efficient, but I don’t want to sit here and claim it was satisfactory when we’re not even in the Western Conference play-in tournament.”
“On an individual level, I have a lot to improve,” Williamson added. “I want to be able to attack from various positions on the court. I aim to be unpredictable offensively, and I didn’t execute that well this year. … I want to contribute more to my team.”
Williamson, a dynamic and powerful 6-foot-6 forward who was selected first overall from Duke in 2019, achieved a personal milestone by participating in 35 consecutive games this season. His total games played this season were the second-highest of his career, only behind the 70 games he played in the 2023-24 season. That season also marked the last time the Pelicans reached the NBA playoffs — but without Williamson, who sustained a left hamstring injury in the closing moments of a play-in defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The only other instance where the 25-year-old Williamson played more than 30 games in a season was in 2020-21, when he appeared in 61 games. Overall, he has been sidelined for 280 of 556 career regular season games due to knee, hand, foot, and soft tissue injuries — particularly his hamstring.
“What I take the most pride in is how quickly I was able to recover from any injuries I faced this year,” remarked Williamson, who could have participated in 65 games but was rested for New Orleans’ final three, less significant contests.
Pelicans veteran guard Dejounte Murray commended the progress Williamson has made in enhancing his health over the past year.
“Z — I believe he’s starting to understand,” Murray stated. “He needs to keep taking care of his body, his mind, and his development is essential, too.”
Williamson’s availability this season may increase his appeal to other teams, but he emphasized that he prefers not to be traded.
“New Orleans is home for me. I don’t say that just because I’m in front of these cameras,” Williamson noted, who has two seasons remaining on a five-year contract valued at nearly $200 million. “When the offseason arrives, many players leave the city. I reside here. … I’ve been here since I was 19.”
Williamson also expressed that he “100%” trusts the vision of Hall-of-Famer Joe Dumars, who was appointed a year ago as the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations.
“He has the credentials,” Williamson said, referring to Dumars’ championships as both a player and general manager with the Detroit Pistons. “So, someone in my position, all I can do is ask questions and absorb whatever information he provides.”
Williamson’s objective for next season is to participate in 75 to 82 games — and finally reach the playoffs.
His pursuit of this goal, he mentioned, will involve engaging discussions with Dumars and “other hall of famers,” as well as “other championship players.”
“I’m looking to adopt a different approach because it’s frustrating to come up here every year and not be in the playoffs — and I will take my share of the responsibility in that. I definitely hold myself accountable,” Williamson stated.
“Therefore, it’s time to start implementing different strategies, acquiring whatever knowledge I can, and working on various aspects,” Williamson continued. “I need to utilize the resources available to me to seek out the information — to gain the knowledge that I require.”
