Since he was drafted in 2019, New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has played at least 65 games, the new minimum for end-of-season award eligibility, just once.
Last year, the forward took a turn for the better through another small sample size, averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 30 appearances — his third-best points-per-game average and third-fewest games played.
New Orleans’ brass likes the current trajectory he’s on. “He is in really good shape,” Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said.