Shams: Pelicans Think Zion Williamson is 'Primed' for Breakout 2024-25 NBA Season

The New Orleans Pelicans have been waiting for Zion Williamson to live up to his full potential since they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

They believe it's going to happen this season.

"Everyone around the Pelicans believe he's primed for a big season," ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday on the Pat McAfee Show (2:35 mark). "A lot of that is because in past years at this point of training camp or early in the season, there's always been an injury. There's always been something with Zion Williamson where he hasn't been up to snuff, he hasn't been really at the same level as all his teammates as far as conditioning and where he's at physically.

"Now, he's not playing himself into conditioning, he already is in great shape. He looks great, he's focused, he's ready to go. And that is a Zion Williamson we have not seen."

Injuries have long been a concern around the Duke product.

He played just 24 games as a rookie and missed his third season in the league because of a foot injury. While he played just 29 games in 2022-23, he is coming off a career-best 70 games in 2023-24.

Last season was filled with some ups-and-downs, as he played that many games but did not make the All-Star Game and averaged 22.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The scoring total was his lowest mark since he was a rookie, and the rebounding number was the lowest average of his career.

What's more, he missed the team's first-round loss because of a hamstring injury.

But the build up into this season suggests he will make significant strides.

"He worked with the Pelicans' staff all summer, and that was very important to him and very important to the Pelicans," Charania said. "That's not something he's done in past offseasons. There hasn't been a single NBA season where he's come into training camp and looked this dominant in the eyes of the Pelicans."

Charania also explained New Orleans plans on playing Williamson in a "hybrid" role that is somewhat "positionless" and designed to maximize his talents.

At his best, Williamson can be a double-double machine who overpowers defenders on the blocks, controls the boards and even makes plays as a ball-handler and facilitator. Getting that version of the two-time All-Star would be a massive boost for a New Orleans team looking to take a jump in a loaded Western Conference.

The Pelicans advanced to the playoffs last season but were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round with Williamson sidelined by the injury.

Having him healthy and playing at a different level would raise the ceiling for a team that is already loaded with potential.