James Borrego isn’t afraid to shake things up. And on Sunday, with Zion Williamson making his return to the court sooner than expected, Borrego made a bold call: bring the All-Star forward off the bench.
It was a first for Zion - the first time in his career he didn’t start - but it worked. The Pelicans walked out of the United Center with a 114-104 win over the Chicago Bulls, and Zion looked sharp despite the layoff.
Coming back from a right hip adductor strain that sidelined him for five games, Williamson logged 26 minutes and 37 seconds, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists. He was especially impactful in the fourth quarter, scoring seven points as the Pelicans outpaced the Bulls 38-29 to close things out. It wasn’t just about the numbers - it was the energy, the rhythm, and the control he brought in crunch time.
So why the bench role?
“Just the minutes,” Borrego said postgame. “Obviously he’s coming back off injury.
The No. 1 thing for Z is to keep him healthy and keep him on the floor. That’s my No. 1 thing.
How we do it, we’re trying to figure that out.”
Borrego’s approach was all about managing Zion’s workload - not just in terms of total minutes, but how those minutes were distributed. By bringing him off the bench, the Pelicans could better control his in-game rhythm and ensure he was fresh enough to close the game, which is exactly what happened.
Zion, for his part, was fully on board.
“Coach JB communicated with me early in the day,” Williamson said. “It was a game plan that allowed me to close the game.
My body is used to playing certain minutes of a quarter. He walked me through it.
I didn’t have a problem with it because it allowed me to close the game.”
That buy-in from Zion is no small thing. For a player of his stature to accept a bench role - even temporarily - speaks volumes about where his mindset is right now. He’s focused on the long game, and that’s a good sign for a Pelicans team still trying to find its footing this season.
Borrego rolled out a starting five of Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, and Derik Queen - the third straight game and fourth time this season that group has opened. It’s a lineup that’s shown flashes, and with Zion sliding into a sixth-man role, it gave the Pelicans a new dynamic.
When he checked in, the tempo changed. The Bulls had to adjust.
And by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Zion was still fresh enough to be a difference-maker.
“Based on the minutes restriction or whatever we are looking at right now, this could be a good combination for us,” Borrego said. “I thought he was fantastic.
He came in and gave us great energy. He had sustained energy throughout the game and it gave him the ability to close in a way that wasn’t condensed or rushed.”
That last part is key. Too often when players return from injury, they’re thrown into tight rotations that don’t allow them to find a rhythm. Borrego’s decision gave Zion a smoother ramp-up, and it paid off.
The injury itself - a right hip adductor strain - was initially expected to keep Williamson out for an extended period. Diagnosed on December 2, reports suggested he’d be re-evaluated in three weeks.
Instead, he was back in 12 days. That’s not just a quick turnaround - that’s elite-level recovery, and Zion credits the work he put in over the summer.
“Injuries suck,” he said. “There’s no other way to put it.
Rehabbing is not fun either. But over the summer, me putting in that work on my body allows me - if something does happen - it’s not anything that keeps me out a super long time.
I’m able to rehab it not just faster, but at a more efficient rate.”
For a player who’s dealt with his share of injury setbacks, that’s a major development. Zion’s availability has always been a swing factor for New Orleans, and anything that helps him stay on the court - even if it means coming off the bench - is a step in the right direction.
The Pelicans, now 5-22, are still looking for consistency. Sunday’s win gave them their second two-game winning streak of the season.
They’ll try to build on that Thursday when they host the Houston Rockets. Whether Zion starts or comes off the bench again remains to be seen, but he’s made it clear he’s all in - whatever the role.
“Whatever this team needs me to do to win, I’m going to do it,” he said.
That’s the kind of mindset this team needs. And if Sunday was any indication, Zion’s return - no matter how it’s managed - gives the Pelicans a much-needed spark.