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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring during the second quarter of an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Smoothie King Center on February 24, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Pelicans have struggled to compete this season. Right now, the Pelicans have the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They have been one of the worst teams in the league since the season began.
Zion Williamson has had the healthiest stretch of his career in the last few weeks. He has been healthier this year than at any point in his career. He has now made 26 straight starts, which is the longest stretch of his NBA career. Yet, he has been hesitant to take 3s.
This season, Williamson is taking only 0.1 3s per game. That is the lowest amount of his career. Williamson recently explained why he is taking fewer 3s than at any point.
GettyNew Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson drives the ball. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
Pelicans Star Zion Williamson Explains Why He Doesn’t Shoot 3s
Williamson explains that he is essentially scared to shoot them because he hasn’t been making them. In fact, in a game against the Warriors, it was the first time he had made a 3 in about a year.
“My teammates are always telling me to shoot them, but I be stuck in my own mentals sometimes. Just trying to get to the rack, getting the easiest, best shot. But they been telling me to shoot it, and I was wide-open. Had to let that one go.”
Williamson went on to say he feels like he’s wasting possessions by shooting 3s.
“I’m gonna look for it more. I just hate when I miss. It’s not that I don’t want to shoot them, I don’t want to feel like I wasted a team possession like that.”
Williamson is very conscious about his 3-point shooting and how it affects the rest of the team. He understands that he is a much more effective driver and post player, so it doesn’t make sense for him to take a lot of outside shots.
GettyNew Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots the ball. (Photo by Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
The Pelicans Are Unsure of How to Rebuild
New Orleans has a lot of really good players on the roster, but it is still one of the worst teams in the league. It’s unclear how they are going to stage the rebuild that they so badly need to undergo. Williamson was supposed to elevate the franchise to playoff contention.
Williamson understands that he is going to have to be more effective from the outside if he is going to be an All-NBA kind of player. Despite the fact that the Pelicans have so many individual great players, they are going to struggle to rebuild next season.
Without their first-round pick this season, it’s going to be hard for them to make an immediate turnaround. The 2026 draft is set to be an all-time draft, and New Orleans has to sit it out because of the Derik Queen trade.
The Pelicans didn’t want to trade Williamson at the deadline. If he can actually stay healthy for an entire season, this team becomes much tougher to beat.