A healthy February for Zion Williamson has lifted him and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Injuries and tough luck have thrown a wrench in the Pelicans’ plans for this season, but there are still bright spots to highlight. They still have a competent core, some of their depth players have become regular rotation contributors and rookie Yves Missi has shown enough potential to believe he can be the center of the future.
However, there’s no doubt Zion Williamson is the building block for the team’s long-term vision. And when he’s been on the floor, it’s been easy to see why. Williamson has been limited to just 20 games so far this season due to injuries, but his recent health and availability have helped him turn his season around.
The star forward is coming off a 22-point effort in a 114-96 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, but his impact on the victory was far more than just scoring alone. He also added nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks across 28 minutes to help the Pelicans secure the win. Williamson has missed only one game in February, and he’s averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per contest over that span. Those are star-caliber numbers and show his potential when healthy.
Perhaps the most interesting stat is how he’s getting most of his points. The former Duke star ranks second in the league in field goals made and attempted within five feet of the bucket, making 6.5 of the 10.3 shots he takes within that distance. It shows Williamson is getting to the rim at ease and succeeding when he does so, converting 63.1 percent of those attempts.
He’s at his best near the rim, and his partnership with Missi could be a long-term dynamic frontcourt duo for a New Orleans team that has been heavily decimated by injuries throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign.
Combine that with the perimeter shooting provided by CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy and the ingredients are there for the Pelicans to have a strong finish this season.
