Zion Williamson Comes Off the Bench for the First Time - and Shows Why It Might Work
For the first time in his basketball career - high school, college, or pro - Zion Williamson came off the bench. And he made it look like just another day at the office.
Sunday’s 114-104 win over the Bulls wasn’t just another notch in the win column for the Pelicans. It marked a new chapter in how the team might manage one of its biggest stars.
After missing a week and a half due to injury, Williamson returned to action - but not in the starting five. Instead, interim head coach James Borrego opted for a different approach, bringing Zion in as a reserve to ease him back into game rhythm.
The result? Efficiency, energy, and a glimpse of just how dangerous this team can be when it’s clicking.
Williamson finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in 27 minutes. He also delivered a couple of key buckets in crunch time, helping the Pelicans hold off a late Bulls push.
It wasn’t just the numbers - it was the way he moved, the way he attacked mismatches, and how he didn’t force anything. He looked comfortable, confident, and fresh.
“Coach JB communicated with me earlier in the day,” Williamson said postgame. “It was a game plan that allowed me to close the game...
He walked me through it, I didn’t have a problem with it... Whatever this team needs me to do to win, I’m gonna do it.”
That mindset - team-first, no ego - is exactly what Borrego and the Pelicans need right now as they navigate a season filled with injuries, lineup changes, and growing pains. Borrego’s decision to bring Zion off the bench echoed a similar move he made with guard Jordan Poole, who returned from injury on Dec. 11 and dropped 22 points in a win over Portland. Both players were reintroduced with purpose - not just minutes, but meaningful roles.
And let’s talk about that purpose. Since Borrego took over, the Pelicans have turned up the tempo.
In their last 20 games, they’ve scored fewer than 110 points just twice. The offense is moving faster, the ball is popping, and the young guys are thriving.
Two rookies have locked down starting spots, and it’s clear the coaching staff is leaning into development without sacrificing competitiveness.
Now, with Poole and Williamson both back in the mix, Borrego faces the kind of challenge coaches like to have - too many capable players, not enough minutes. But it’s a puzzle worth solving.
“We’re gonna figure this out,” Borrego said after the win. “He came in and gave us great energy.
He had sustained energy... It gave him the ability to close in a way that wasn’t condensed or rushed.”
That last part is key. Zion didn’t have to carry the load from the opening tip.
Instead, he came in fresh, found his rhythm, and helped close the door in the fourth quarter. It’s a model that could help preserve his health and maximize his impact - especially if the Pelicans are playing the long game.
Next up: a matchup with the Houston Rockets, one of the Western Conference’s top teams at 16-7. They’re led by veteran Kevin Durant, but built around a young, hungry core. It’s a clash of timelines - the Rockets trying to contend now, the Pelicans trying to build something sustainable despite a tough 5-22 record.
Whether Zion starts or comes off the bench again remains to be seen. But if Sunday was any indication, the Pelicans may have found a new wrinkle in how to manage their star - one that could pay off in the long run.