As one of the NBA’s brighter young superstars, Zion Williamson is one of the few players in the league who truly gets to dictate his future. Because of the singular influence he can have on any game as a physical power forward, the Pelicans are in a bind where they have to hope he wants to stay in New Orleans, rather than leave for perceived greener pastures.
Williamson hasn’t played in a game since last season due to a foot injury. Naturally, that means tension over his future will build gradually.
Charles Barkley questioned his fitness on national television. The Pelicans themselves didn’t include a mention of Williamson in a message to their season-ticket holders. One of Zion’s former teammates, J.J. Reddick, took issue with Williamson reportedly not reaching out to C.J. McCollum after the Pelicans acquired him at the trade deadline. Even before the madness of this season started, many questioned Williamson’s long-term commitment to New Orleans.
If Williamson is thinking down the road about forcing a trade from the Pelicans, he would do well to reconsider for a bit longer. Or at least hesitate long enough to think about what he could do and what he could win in New Orleans.
Since late February, five games into McCollum’s New Orleans career, the Pelicans have won four-straight contests over the Suns, Lakers, Kings, and Jazz. Your eyes do not deceive you. They beat the Suns and Jazz (who were five-point favorites over the Pels), two West powerhouses, and pretty decisively.
🚫🚫🚫 @_hoopinglife pic.twitter.com/D207dF7uLZ
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 5, 2022
Blocks, or should I say, swats, like this don’t usually happen in close games. And most teams usually don’t have 30-point leads, three times somewhere, in a short week. Most teams are not the Pelicans.
The Pelicans have led by 30+ in 3 straight games for the first time in franchise history pic.twitter.com/QwYYyq4Wiu
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2022
Well, actually, most teams are not the Pelicans except for the Spurs. But that’s amazing, unique company to keep and says even more about how well New Orleans is gelling of late.
The Pelicans have won 3 straight games by 25+ points for the first time in franchise history.
They are the first team to win 3 straight games by 25+ points since the Spurs in 2018. pic.twitter.com/G1pqhZHRN1
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2022
A 124-90 blowout over the Jazz, who were the West’s top seed last year, is impressive enough. Having a 30-point lead in three straight games is something not even the established contenders do.
Williamson is one of a kind and has a bright future ahead of him, whether he stays in New Orleans or — as some have speculated — perhaps thinks of being The One who finally drags the Knicks out of basketball Purgatory. But the Pelicans with McCollum in the fold are showing real potential. The kind of potential, with Zion leading the way to a team that becomes a high roller in the West for years. They will, of course, have to dominate longer than a sample size consisting of a short stint through late February and early March.
Still, wins over Phoenix and Utah speak to some magic brewing. There’s enough to mold, enough Play-Doh to make Zion’s Pelicans a top attraction.
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