When Zion Williamson is healthy, he's a freight train in sneakers - and Sunday night in San Antonio, even Victor Wembanyama couldn’t stop him.
Early in the second quarter at Frost Bank Center, Williamson found himself in a one-on-one situation against Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 7-foot-4 defensive phenom. What followed was a reminder of just how explosive Zion can be when he’s locked in.
Taking a pass beyond the arc, Williamson faced up, gave Wemby a quick read, then put the ball on the floor and exploded past him like he wasn’t even there. Two dribbles later, he was at the rim, throwing down an uncontested dunk that left the crowd buzzing and the Spurs’ bench stunned.
Now, let’s be clear - Wembanyama is already one of the league’s most disruptive defenders. His length alone changes shots and deters drives.
But in that moment, it didn’t matter. Zion didn’t need a flashy move or a fancy crossover.
ZION WILLIAMSON OH MY GOODNESS 😤
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 26, 2026
Zion goes right past Wemby and elevates for a JAM 💥
pic.twitter.com/lDiwzBEmeN
He just beat him with raw speed, power, and that signature first step that’s as quick as it is violent. Wembanyama tried to slide over, but he simply couldn’t react fast enough.
That’s the Zion effect.
And that’s what makes Williamson such a matchup nightmare. Even elite defenders - and Wemby is already trending in that direction - can struggle to contain him.
At 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, Zion moves like a guard and finishes like a big. Plays like this are why coaches lose sleep and why fans keep believing in his ceiling, even through the injuries.
Heading into this game, Williamson was averaging 22.0 points, 5.9 boards, and 3.4 assists on a blistering 58.0% shooting. Efficiency like that isn’t just good - it’s elite, especially for a player who does most of his damage inside the paint, where defenses are keyed in on stopping him.
The Pelicans came into Sunday’s game winless against San Antonio this season, having dropped all three prior matchups. This was their last shot to avoid a regular-season sweep at the hands of the Spurs - not exactly the outcome New Orleans envisioned when the season tipped off. But even in a tough matchup, Williamson’s presence gives the Pelicans a puncher’s chance every night.
Because when Zion gets downhill, it doesn’t matter if you’re a 7-foot-4 shot-blocking prodigy - you’re just another name on the highlight reel.