Things are not going well for the New Orleans Pelicans right now and Zion Williamson is a big part of the problem.
The vibe is just off with Zion right now.
He’s still the Pelicans’ best player, and is the one who things run through the most. His usage rate of 30.6 percent is significant. The team is going to go as he goes. Right now, it’s just not going. New Orleans is 4-6 and has lost five straight games.
The ball is out of his hands more and we’re seeing less of the point-Zion stuff we’ve seen in the past. So for this year, he’s shooting a career-low 51 percent from the floor and getting to the free throw line a career-low 7.1 times per game. He’s only shooting 61 percent from the charity stripe.
He was asked about his role in the Pelicans’ offense so far this season and, well, if you were looking for a pick-me-up, Pelicans fans, you won’t find it here.
Zion Williamson doesn't look too happy: "I'm trying my best to buy in right now." pic.twitter.com/uyzuDRAe8M
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) November 13, 2023
“You know, like I said last year, you know, we had a team meeting and we brought up some things I could do better like buying into the team program. Right now, it’s tough right now. But, like I said, right now I’m taking a little back seat right now and I’m trusting the process. I’m trying my best to buy in right now.”
What’s frustrating is that Williamson is saying while his effort has been such a huge part of the problem. Anyone who has watched a Pelicans game or two so far this season knows exactly what I’m talking about. There are plays he’s simply not making right now.
Take this Grant Williams offensive rebound in the Mavs game, for example. Williams shoots the ball and gets the rebound himself. Guess who is guarding him? Zion. And he doesn’t move. At all.
This is off a made basket by the Pelicans.
Brandon Ingram runs past Grant Williams. Zion Williamson stands next to Grant Williams while Grant Williams goes and gets the offensive rebound.
There is just no defending this pic.twitter.com/R05A1Ze6to
— Pro Pels Talk (@ProPelsTalk) November 13, 2023
I don’t want to do the cliché “he sounds like he doesn’t want to be there” bit but that’s exactly what this sounds like.
Now, certainly, part of that is the frustration of losing five straight. Anybody would be frustrated after that. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that Zion doesn’t want to be in New Orleans.
But, man. This is not a good look.
