Zion Williamson is Prepared Ahead of the 2025-26 Season

As the #1 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson has not lived up to expectations. He has already showcased his talent and potential, but he struggles to do so due to his consistent untimely injuries.

He has already proven that when healthy, he is one of the league's most unstoppable scorers. During the 2020-21 season, he played in 61 games, while averaging 27 points on 61.1% from the field.

Williamson Feels Ready to Return to His Duke Form

In college, Williamson was ready to take charge and become the best player in the NBA when he stepped up. He was prepared to keep doing so with his fantastic first two seasons, but that has not materialized due to his injuries.

For the upcoming 2025-26 season, Williamson is looking slimmer and more confident than ever. That is a good sign for the Pelicans, as they want their star player to stand out and finally take charge.

The past few seasons have been rough for the Pelicans, as they were relying on Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum to step up in Williamson's absence. They could have been a formidable team if Zion were healthy, but that was rarely the case.

Now that Ingram and McCollum are gone, it is time for Williamson to take charge and prove why the Pelicans trust him. He has some fantastic teammates alongside him with the likes of Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III.

"We came up with a plan, and from boxing to working out on the football field, a lot. Just different random workouts, and during that time last year, I really felt a shift in body," Williamson said on the Pelicans' media day.

"It feels good to feel good. I haven't felt like this since college, high school. I can just walk into the gym and say that I feel good."

A Confident Williamson is a Good Sign For New Orleans

The Pelicans are projected to be one of the worst-performing teams in the Western Conference. It is up to the roster to step up and prove that they belong in the postseason contention.

They have a lot of talented players, and it will be up to them and the coaching staff to prove they deserve it. Most people do not expect them to be there, but with a confident and healthy Williamson, that could all change.

If Williamson is feeling confident, that should be a good sign because he thrives whenever he is feeling like that. That already happened in previous seasons, but he has a bigger point to prove now, and he will have some support from his teammates.

The rest of the Pelicans are prepared to help Williamson, which could bode well for the long-term future in New Orleans.