“You don’t get to be great and not responsible… It’s not enough just to be talented. There is a difference between talent and great.. He’s been great.. I have seen him for the last month in and out of the facility, really pushing himself hard”

— Joe Dumars on Zion Williamson pic.twitter.com/9bUA3d72as

— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) September 22, 2025

Is this the season Zion Williamson finally puts it all together wire-to-wire and competes in an NBA postseason for the first time? Judging by his comments Tuesday at New Orleans Pelicans media day, it certainly seems like it could be.

Williamson spoke highly of the team’s new front office headed by Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, the growth of Trey Murphy III and the experience ex-Warriors Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney can bring to the Pels, among other things. Most importantly, Williamson had good things to say about his health, crediting a new workout plan for feeling his best since college.

It was all very encouraging to hear. It’s not hard to imagine a world where the Pelicans make a playoff push in a tough Western Conference — if all goes well. However, the time for lip service is long overdue as Williamson enters year seven. All the things he mentioned need to translate in a tangible way on the court, and it probably needs to happen sooner than later.

ZION: See Williamson’s weight loss in photos

Last season could have been that make or break year for Williamson if the team didn’t have another scapegoat for their shortcomings in Dumars’ predecessor as VP of basketball operations, David Griffin. But with a new regime in place, it’s hard to imagine Williamson avoiding more heat if things continue to go as they have been.

Righting the ship starts with Williamson’s availability. When he plays, he’s a menace — one of the NBA’s very best players. He’s a two-time All-Star despite playing more than 30 games just twice in his career. Even if the Pelicans miss the playoffs, he’ll be forgiven if he’s able to stay on the court. The team is also looking for Williamson to be a better leader, and Dumars is holding him accountable to that.

If he improves in those areas, the narrative becomes what the Pelicans can do to help Williamson rather than what he can do better to help them. If not, that’s when the chatter of whether the team should pull the trigger on a trade will begin to ramp up, before Williamson is due another extension. I’ll be rooting for the scenario where he stays healthy and things work out in New Orleans.

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