Shaq downplays Zion Williamson's hot stretch: 'I'm not impressed'

Zion Williamson has averaged 25.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists over his last 10 games, which includes his first two career triple-doubles. Yet, Shaquille O'Neal isn't impressed with the Pelicans star.

After Williamson dropped 22 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists in a win over the Clippers on Monday, Shaq refused to give props to the Duke alum.

"You're giving him props for that? I need more," O'Neal said on "Inside the NBA" on TNT. "[22] isn't enough, I need 26 or 27. I demand that from my franchise player that I'm paying maximum [dollars] to...Anybody can get 20 points. That's good, but not good enough...I'm not impressed."

O'Neal said he'd have a different opinion if the Pelicans (18-48) were the third or fourth seed, not 14th in the Western Conference. 

In fairness to the Pelicans, they've been ravaged by injuries all season, with Williamson (39), Dejounte Murray (35) and CJ McCollum (16) missing a chunk of games already. Even Brandon Ingram appeared in only 18 games before being sent to Toronto at the trade deadline.

Entering the season, New Orleans was expected to build on its 49-win tally from last year, especially after the team acquired Murray. Those expectations were jolted after Williamson missed two months with a hamstring strain earlier in the season and Murray sustained a season-ending Achilles injury.

For Williamson, the next month or so is about building good habits, knowing that he won't be playing in the postseason.