For years, the New Orleans
Pelicans have wondered, what if Zion Williamson stayed healthy?
What if their young core developed on schedule? What if their
potential turned into reality? Each season, the answers have been
clouded by injuries, inconsistencies, and flashes of brilliance
that never fully crystallized into sustained success.
However, this year feels a
little different. This time, the question isn’t just what if – it’s
why not now?
At the center of it all is Zion
Williamson, the player who has embodied both the promise and
frustration of the Pelicans’ franchise. Since entering the league
in 2019, Zion has been a spectacle: a 6-foot-10 wingspan in a
6-foot-6 frame, capable of bulldozing defenders one moment and
soaring above the rim the next. At his best, he is one of the
league’s most unstoppable offensive forces, averaging 26 points per
game on historic efficiency during his healthiest
stretch.
But availability has been his
greatest obstacle. In five NBA seasons, Williamson has played more
than 60 games only twice in his career. His injuries have been a
constant cloud, creating skepticism about whether New Orleans could
ever truly build around him.
This summer, that narrative took
a sharp turn. Zion arrived to training camp slimmer, noticeably
more explosive, and carrying himself with a sense of focus that his
teammates and coaches immediately noticed. The weight questions,
once a persistent storyline, have been replaced by a new image: a
player who has embraced the responsibility of leading a
franchise.
A fit, determined Williamson
changes everything for New Orleans. His ability to collapse
defenses forces constant rotations, opening lanes for shooters like
Trey Murphy III and creating easier looks for teammates. His sheer
presence shifts scouting reports and stretches defenses in ways few
players in the league can replicate. If he stays healthy, he isn’t
just an All-Star – he’s an MVP-caliber player.
The defensive backbone
Yet, the Pelicans’ story isn’t
just Zion anymore. Over the last two seasons, New Orleans has
quietly built one of the league’s toughest defensive identities.
Herb Jones has emerged as one of the NBA’s premier perimeter
defenders, capable of smothering opposing stars with his length,
anticipation, and discipline. His ability to neutralize scorers
gives the Pelicans a weapon they can lean on in high-stakes
moments.
Alongside Jones, Trey Murphy III
has developed into more than just a shooter. His 3-and-D skill set,
paired with growing confidence as a secondary scorer, gives New
Orleans a wing duo that can both stretch the floor and guard
multiple positions. Add in Jose Alvarado – the relentless spark
plug who pressures the ball full-court and embodies the team’s grit
– and the Pelicans’ backcourt and wing defense becomes the backbone
of their identity.
Defense has often been
overlooked when analyzing New Orleans, but it may be the key to
unlocking consistency. In a Western Conference filled with
offensive juggernauts, having versatile defenders who can match up
across lineups is invaluable.
The new faces
Offseason moves also signal a
commitment to balancing the roster. Jordan Poole, fresh off an
uneven stint with Golden State and Washington, now has a chance to
reinvent himself in New Orleans. Here, he doesn’t need to be a
franchise cornerstone. Instead, he slides into a pivotal third
option role, providing instant offense and shot creation alongside
Williamson and Murphy. Poole’s streaky shooting can swing games,
and in short bursts, he could be the X-factor that pushes the
Pelicans over the top in tight contests.
Then there’s Kevon Looney, a
player who embodies everything New Orleans has lacked: championship
experience, toughness, and dependability. A three-time champion
with the Warriors, Looney’s contributions won’t light up a box
score, but his rebounding, screens, and defensive positioning will
make the Pelicans harder to break down. For a team that has often
folded late in games, Looney’s calm presence offers a stabilizing
influence.
A familiar core, older and wiser
The beauty of this Pelicans
roster lies in its continuity. This is not a team starting from
scratch. Just three years ago, New Orleans was a 49-win squad that
briefly held the top seed in the Western Conference. They pushed
the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, even without a healthy Zion,
showing glimpses of what their ceiling could be.
The core from that run –
Alvarado, Murphy, Jones, and Williamson – is still intact. Now,
they’re older, more seasoned, and carrying the scars of past
disappointments. Experience is often the unspoken separator between
contenders and pretenders, and the Pelicans have quietly built that
experience over time.
For New Orleans, those lessons
have accumulated. They’ve seen how injuries derail momentum.
They’ve felt what it’s like to lose a winnable series. And now,
with a healthier roster and a leader in peak condition, they’re
ready to apply those lessons.
However, make no mistake: the
Western Conference is brutal. Oklahoma City, Denver, Houston, and
Minnesota all remain strong. Golden State and both teams in LA are
still lurking. But in a year where the balance of power feels more
spread out than usual, there’s room for a team like New Orleans to
make a leap.
For the Pelicans, the stakes are
clear. If Zion stays healthy and this roster gels, they are capable
of winning at least 45, maybe even 50 games and securing one of the
6 playoff spots in the West. They have the depth, the defense, and
now, perhaps for the first time, the maturity to sustain
success.
But if health issues resurface,
or if Zion falters, the narrative could turn quickly. Questions
about the franchise’s direction would resurface, and the burden of
wasted potential would hang heavier than ever. This season isn’t
just about competing – it’s about proving that the Pelicans can
finally move past the all the what ifs from previous
seasons.
– – –
Hope is a fragile thing in
sports. For New Orleans, it has often felt like a tease. But this
time, there’s a different energy around the team. Zion’s
transformation has given the franchise and its fans something
tangible to believe in. The roster, deeper and more balanced than
ever, provides legitimate optimism. And the core, tested by
setbacks, feels ready to take the next step.
The Pelicans have everything
they need to succeed: a superstar ready to reclaim his place among
the league’s best, a defensive identity that can withstand the
West’s firepower, and the supporting cast to fill gaps when stars
rest.
For the first time in a long
time, New Orleans doesn’t have a question of what if. It feels like
a statement: why not now?
