Zion Williamson’s first seven years in the league have been a rollercoaster ride with more lows than highs. As someone who is not a fan of rollercoasters, I can tell you that it has not been a fun ride.
Last season was one of Williamson’s best. In large part, since he stayed in shape and was healthy for most of the season. There are no questions of the type of impact the Duke standout can have when he is on the court. It’s been keeping the explosive forward playing that has been the biggest issue.
The first and most important thing that Williamson needs to do in the 2026-2027 season is stay on the court. Even before he was drafted there were questions about whether Williamson’s body could stay healthy over the course of an 82-game season. So far, it has not.
In three of his seven seasons, Williamson played over 60 games, hitting 70 in the 2023-2024 season and 62 last season. The days of star players getting into 82 games are over.
It would be unreasonable to expect Williamson to suit up for every single game next season, but he needs to suit up for over 60 games. If he can stay healthy and get on the court more than that, I think the New Orleans Pelicans and their fans would take that.
There is; however, a caveat to this. The second thing that Williamson must do is stay in shape. I don’t care if he plays all 82 games, if he is not in shape, it’s going to be a long season for the Pelicans.
I’ve watched Williamson play when he is in great shape and I’ve watched him play when he clearly is not in good shape. It’s a big difference. We all know what he is capable of when he is in shape. He is an unstoppable force on the offensive side of the ball.
Where I think the difference really shows is on the defensive side of the ball. Williamson has the athleticism to be a good defensive player. I’ve seen some highlight-reel blocks from him. But when he is out of shape, you really notice it on the defensive side of the ball where players routinely blow past him.
A healthy and in-shape Zion Williamson is a great start for the Pelicans
The final part of a successful season for Williamson is buy-in from the Pelicans’ star player. Williamson has had four head coaches in his seven seasons. And he most likely will be playing for a fifth head coach this upcoming season.
To his credit, Williamson has always said the right things in terms of his playing time and coaching game plans. However, there have been times that he has seemed more zoned in than others. For example, Williamson seemed especially engaged while James Borrego was the interim head coach. He even came off the bench for a few games, without any complaints.
It’s going to be imperative that Williamson is all in on the new head coach. Now, I don’t think the Pelicans necessarily need their star player’s approval on the next head coach, but they should be considering how Williamson will fit with the new hire.
Zion Williamson needs to stay healthy, stay in shape, and stay engaged. If he can do those three things, it will not only be a good season for Williamson, but it will be a good season for the Pelicans.
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