The New Orleans Pelicans have stumbled out of the gate in 2026-27, but Zion Williamson is at least giving them something to hang onto.
Through five games, Williamson has been on the floor every night, and that alone matters after the injury questions that have followed him for years. He’s averaging 21.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, production that doesn’t match his 2020-21 peak of 27 points and 7.2 rebounds, but still counts as a strong start while he’s staying available.
There’s also a visible difference. Williamson looks slimmer than he has in previous seasons, and that matters because his availability has always been the biggest part of the conversation around him. He played only 62 games last season, but he also had a stretch where he appeared in 51 of 52 games, a reminder that he can string together a meaningful run when things are going right.
For the Pelicans, that creates at least a little hope in a season that has otherwise started badly. Williamson may not be viewed as a franchise player at this stage, but he can still be a very good one. If he keeps putting together a strong first half, his trade value could climb, and that would make him a possible target for a contender looking for a boost.
That kind of development would leave New Orleans with more paths forward. Right now, the Pelicans do not have many. They are tied to Williamson and hoping he can still become the player his talent once promised.
His early play gives them a reason to believe that might still happen in some form. It could help them in the short term, and it could also turn him into a major trade asset down the line.
It’s still striking that Zion Williamson is not viewed as a top-10 player at this point, considering the hype that came with being drafted in 2019. ESPN recently ranked him 56th in the NBA, a placement driven by production and availability rather than talent.
Even so, Williamson is starting to chip away at the doubts. The more he plays, the more value he builds, and the more he gives the Pelicans a chance to improve.
In Other News...
Pelicans Finally Found A Lineup That Changes The Conversation
The Pelicans have spent much of the season searching for a combination that could steady the rotation and change the tone around the team, and Thursdays win over Atlanta offered a convincing case that they may have found one. New Orleans rolled past the Hawks 121-99 for its second straight victory, with Saddiq Bey providing a major spark off the bench and the group around him looking far more connected than it has at other points this year.
Jeremiah Fears, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Karlo Matkovic gave the game a different shape from the start, as the starting unit all finished on the positive side of the ledger. Dejounte Murray sat out for rest, but the Pelicans did not need him to control the night, which is exactly the kind of development that can make a coach rethink how the pieces fit once the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Are Finding Answers As Murray's Absence Tests The Rotation
Jamahl Mosley has been forced to juggle the rotation a little earlier than expected, with Dejounte Murray away for the birth of his son and Jordan Poole dealing with an ankle injury. The Pelicans responded by leaning on their depth, and Herbert Jones stepped into the starting lineup while Jeremiah Fears kept showing he can handle a bigger load when the opportunity comes.
The results have given New Orleans something to build on, with consecutive wins and a bench that has looked increasingly comfortable in expanded roles. Mosley has liked the effort and energy his group has brought through the adjustment period, and Murray was around for the second game even though he did not play as the team chose to keep him on the sideline a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Fears Is Forcing A New Pelicans Backcourt Conversation
Jeremiah Fears has turned a quiet stretch into a real conversation for the Pelicans, and it is happening fast. In his last two games, the rookie guard has looked far more like a steadying force than a player finding his way, piling up points, playmaking and activity on both ends while helping New Orleans beat Sacramento and Atlanta.
The most striking part is how quickly the discussion around his role has shifted. Coaches and analysts have started to talk about him as more than a promising young guard, with his recent play opening the door to a starting lead-guard case and even some early Most Improved Player buzz, which is not the kind of momentum a team can ignore for long. [Read more 🡒]