Pelicans Media Day: Three Storylines You Can’t Miss

Having Williamson in great shape is priority No. 1 for the Pelicans. With Zion at his college shape, he can be explosive and show his full potential. Looking at him on media day, he looks pumped, in shape, and without any trace of all that extra weight he had in previous years. Even his teammate Trey Murphy later said that Zion is slimmer than he has ever seen him during the summer.

Former Championship Teammates Reunite

This summer, the Pelicans traded for Jordan Poole and signed Kevon Looney . The two played together for the Golden State Warriors, even winning a title in 2022. The Pelicans expect those two to bring some championship experience and leadership to the team. Speaking about playing with Looney again, Poole said:

“I am super excited. I haven’t had a good screen in two years, so it’ll be dope. Playing with somebody who’s won a championship. Obviously, you go through a long season and you build the relationship. But in terms of just basketball chemistry, it’s really a big pickup for how I play, but I think it’s huge for our team too. He’s probably the most professional player person that I’ve been around in my seven years in the league.”

Last year’s rookie, Yves Missi could certainly benefit from having Looney on the team. Missi had a great rookie season, but with Looney’s help, he can grow his game even more. Derik Queen, the prized rookie who the Pelicans traded up to get, will also benefit.

Murphy Adds to His Arsenal of Moves

While Williamson might be the biggest name on the Pelicans roster, Murphy is probably the one with the most upside. Last season, Murphy averaged 20+ points for the first time. A lot of Pelicans fans believed he should get some consideration for the Most Improved Player of the Year Award. But since he only played 53 games, he didn’t get votes. Discussing his improvements for the upcoming season, Murphy said:

“I mean, I just think what changed was I had to work on different things earlier in the summer because I was really able to shoot threes until like the middle of July. It was hard to shoot threes. So, I worked a lot on mid-range shots and getting to that second level.”

Being a good mid-range scorer is a vital skill for great players. When the game is tight, having someone who can make a mid-range shot is the difference between being a playoff team and a lottery team. Last season, Murphy improved his scoring and expanded his game with advanced ball-handling, driving, and finishing abilities. If he adds a mid-range jumper, he can rise to an All-Star level.