ESPN’s first crack at its top 100 NBA player rankings put only two New Orleans Pelicans on the board, with Zion Williamson landing at No. 51 and Trey Murphy checking in just behind him at No. 57.
That’s a modest showing for a team that believes it has the pieces to get back to the postseason. The rest of the league, at least for now, is buying in a little less.
Murphy’s spot fits the growing buzz around his game. He has been climbing in public perception, and this ranking places him ahead of wings such as Michael Porter Jr., Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram. At the same time, he still trails players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels and Desmond Bane, which shows there’s more room for him to move up if his game takes another step in 2025.
Williamson’s placement carries a different kind of weight. His trainer, Kris Chrisp, reacted to the star being left outside the top 50 by posting a picture of Michael Jordan reading a newspaper. It was a pointed response, and maybe the kind of thing Williamson can carry with him into the season.
The 26-year-old did make progress with his health last season, but his offensive game still has plenty of room to grow. If he expands that part of his game, he has a chance to climb back toward the level people once expected from him. For now, though, the burden is still on him to remind everyone of the stardom that has been clouded by years of health issues.
There’s not much of an argument against Murphy or Williamson being on the list. The bigger debate is whether New Orleans should have had more names represented.
Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray are the two most obvious omissions. Jones remains one of the league’s most underrated players because his offense comes and goes, but his defense is elite. If his shot improves this season, he could push himself back into the top tier of conversation.
Murray’s case is simpler: he just hasn’t been on the floor enough. ESPN included Fred VanVleet at No. 91, and the Pelicans are hoping Murray can play at that level or better this year. A strong season in his first fully healthy campaign back would go a long way toward changing the conversation.
In Other News...
Zion Williamsons First Response Just Raised The Stakes For Pelicans
Zion Williamsons first public response to the lawsuit now hanging over him only deepens the uncertainty for the Pelicans, who are once again watching a major storyline unfold around the player the franchise is built around. The allegations involve a relationship that allegedly stretched from 2018 to 2023, and Williamsons camp has already pushed back hard, saying the relationship was consensual and denying that he physically or sexually harmed the woman.
The legal fight now becomes as important as the basketball fallout, because Williamson is also arguing the case should be thrown out because of the statute of limitations and the way the relationship is being portrayed. For New Orleans, the issue is less about the courtroom language than the larger cloud it creates around a centerpiece player whose availability and focus are always part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Zion Williamsons First Response Puts Pelicans Back In Ugly Spotlight
Zion Williamsons off-court situation has pushed the Pelicans back into an uncomfortable spotlight, with the star forward now dealing with serious allegations from a woman who says their relationship included multiple incidents between 2020 and 2023. Williamson has denied the claims and, through his legal response, has characterized the relationship as a consensual friends with benefits arrangement while seeking dismissal on statute-of-limitations grounds.
For New Orleans, the timing only deepens the distraction around a player the franchise has long built around. The situation has already drawn fresh attention beyond the legal filing, including reports tying Williamson to a separate personal matter involving an OnlyFans creator, and it leaves the Pelicans navigating another headline that is likely to linger well beyond the court documents. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Enter Camp With One Starting Spot Under Real Pressure
As the Pelicans open training camp under a new coaching staff, the early read on the starting five already points to the direction this group wants to take. Dejounte Murray is projected to handle point guard duties, with Trey Murphy and Herb Jones fitting into the guard-forward mix, Zion Williamson anchoring the frontcourt at forward and Yves Missi in the middle. It is a lineup built around length, versatility and defense, and it gives the team a clearer sense of how the pieces might fit than it had at this stage a year ago.
Still, a projected five does not make the job safe for everyone, and camp will be the first real test of how rigid those roles are. The new staff is expected to evaluate fit and competition closely, which leaves at least one opening for a player to force the issue before the season begins. For a team trying to define its identity quickly, the pressure is already on whoever wants to turn a good camp into a guaranteed starting role. [Read more 🡒]