Jan 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts on his way to the bench during a timeout against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Jan 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts on his way to the bench during a timeout against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
After going 26-56 last season (11th in the West), the New Orleans Pelicans are still in rebuilding mode. With a roster of mostly young and unproven players, the Pelicans are early in the process of building and developing a championship team, and they are in no rush to change it.
At the heart of their rebuild is former Duke star Zion Williamson, the former No. 1 overall pick in 2019. While his time in New Orleans has been an abject failure so far, it hasn’t stopped him from raking in at least $139 million over the past six years. But now, with the 26-year-old forward eligible for a new extension, the Pelicans are showing some doubt about forking over another max-level contract.
“With two years remaining on his deal, Zion is eligible for an extension this offseason, but it’s highly unlikely that he will get one,” wrote Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. “Even though the Pelicans still believe in the former No. 1 pick, they are in no rush to lock him into a new deal and want to see him put together another complete season after playing in 62 games a season ago.”
The Pelicans have made it clear they aren’t ready to move on from Zion just yet, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stick around forever. As it stands, the 6’6″ athlete still has another two years and $46 million on his deal. That gives the Pelicans a whole other season to assess Williamson’s value and determine his place in their long-term plans.
When healthy, Zion is easily one of the most powerful and explosive finishers in the game. Last season, in 62 games, he averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 60.0% shooting from the field. He was a leading veteran voice in the locker room, setting the example for his younger teammates.
The biggest problems with Zion are his health, conditioning, and durability. He’s been routinely unavailable throughout his career, missing games left and right for a variety of injuries. In fact, since he was drafted in 2019, Williamson has only had three seasons that he played at least 60 games. It’s a brutal medical history which is only made worse by Williamson’s poor eating/dietary habits.
Between constantly missing games, struggling to stay in shape, and underwhelming statistical numbers, it’s hard for the Pelicans (or any team really) to justify giving Zion a lengthy extension. With the star locked in for another two years, it makes more sense for the Pelicans to wait and see how he plays alongside key young players like Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen, and Dejounte Murray. The hope is that, with time and experience, they can grow to become a competitive group, with Zion leading the way both on the court and in the locker room.
It’s an ambitious goal for the Pelicans, but it may not happen if they’re not willing to pay. Despite his injury history, Williamson still views himself as a max-level player, and refusing to offer what he’s worth may be tantamount to betrayal in his eyes. So, before the Pels risk losing him, they will give it one last run to see if they can make it work.