Zion Williamson is putting the rumors to rest. Speaking to reporters after his return to the court, the Pelicans star said he’s proud to represent New Orleans and considers the city his true home, no matter what outsiders say.
“It’s always a privilege to throw on an NBA jersey, to be a Pelican,” said Zion. “In terms of basketball, it was great to be back out there. This is home base. No matter what people say, this is home. This is the crib. I am looking forward to playing in front of these fans again.”
The subject of Zion’s loyalty has come into question of late, with fans and experts wondering just how committed he was to staying with the Pelicans. Since he was drafted, reports have surfaced of Zion coveting a bigger spotlight on a team like the Knicks, Lakers, or Clippers. More importantly, the Pelicans have been regularly losing to the point where Zion has yet to make a single playoff appearance.
There are also the health problems that have plagued Zion’s career. Despite averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 56.7% shooting in the 2024-25 campaign, he only played 30 games for the Pelicans resulting in another failed season which saw the franchise finish 14th in the West at 21-61.
Once again, the failure led to rumors that centered on Zion Williamson in multi-team trade scenarios involving the Knicks, Kings, and other teams. But as a former No. 1 overall pick with amazing talent and a powerful game, Zion is the type of player that would earn a massive haul on the trade market and the Pelicans would rather keep him around. With another three years and $125 million left on his deal, there’s more than enough time to rebuild around Zion and start fresh again with their chosen star at the center.
Or they can go the Mavericks route by trading Zion for a massive haul of picks and young players in return. While any package would be limited for a player with such an extensive injury history, most teams are willing to pay the premium for a springy, athletic wing who can dominate both ends of the court.
The good news for the Pelicans is they don’t have to worry about any sweepstakes right now. If Zion wanted out, he could have asked for it already in today’s player empowerment era. No matter what the doubters say, he’s committed to the Pelicans (at least, for now) and is fully comfortable living full-time in New Orleans.
Alongside Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III, Zion has a chance to pull off something special this season and shock the NBA world. In the process, he can prove his loyalty to the Pelicans by committing himself to staying in shape and in peak condition throughout the season.
If Zion can stay healthy and lead this team back to relevance, all the outside noise will fade. He knows what’s at stake for both his career and the franchise, and this season is his chance to finally prove he can be the face of the Pelicans long-term. Everything starts with staying on the floor, and Zion sounds ready to remind everyone why he’s still one of the most dominant young players in basketball.
