Zion Williamson DeAndre Hunter’s corner 3-point attempt was one of the plays that made his college time at Duke so memorable.
Williamson was defending a pick-and-roll action on the left side of the court. When the ball was swung to the opposite side, Williamson reacted by spinning around, exploding through the air and hitting Hunter’s jumper.
Williamson was a defensive force in college. In 33 games, he accumulated 70 steals and 59 blocks.
Even though Williamson scored with ease in the NBA, his defense didn’t translate the way some hoped. Injuries played a part in that, as did Williamson’s fitness level. But in recent weeks, Williamson has seen an upward trend on the defensive side of the ball.
Sunday’s game in Atlanta is the latest example of what it looks like when Williamson is operating at the peak of his abilities. Early in the first quarter, Williamson’s chase block against Vít Krejčí’s layup attempt sent the basketball flying into the stands.
ZION WILLIAMSON WITH SWAT ????
– Clutch Points (@ClutchPoints) March 10, 2024
“I’m getting there,” Williamson said. “I’m just making my days pile up. Additional conditioning over time. I’m starting to see some of these results. I just have to maintain and keep going.
Williamson was widely criticized for his poor level of physical condition at the start of the season. In December, Williamson struggled to move around the court during the Pelicans’ in-season tournament loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Lately, the brilliance that makes Williamson such a unique athlete is showing up more and more.
Williamson pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds in the Pelicans’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. He also collected two steals and three blocks.
Williamson had seven blocks during the Pelicans’ undefeated three-game road trip. This is the most blocks he has had in a three-game stretch since entering the NBA in 2019.
“It’s been great to see Z(ion) continue to progress throughout the season and stacking days,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Credit to Z(ion) and Coach Aaron Miles and Coach Corey Brewer. They all work together. Our performance and medical team. They are all working hard to make sure he can have a successful season.
“So credit to Z(ion). It gets the job done.
In Green’s first season with the Pelicans, Williamson did not play at all due to a right foot injury. In Green’s second season in New Orleans, a right hamstring injury sidelined Williamson for the team’s final 45 games.
This season, Williamson is on pace to set a career high in games played. He has appeared in 53 of a possible 64 games and has yet to miss consecutive contests.
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has played in 58 of a possible 64 games. Ingram and Williamson consistently being in the lineup — combined with the Pelicans’ impressive depth behind them — allowed New Orleans to climb to 14 games above .500, a benchmark it had not reached since the end of the 2017-18 season.
During the Pelicans’ final game before the All-Star break, Williamson said, “When I’m constantly doing things that aren’t normal, that’s when I know I’m back to where I must be.”
Williamson approaches. He shot 10 of 14 from the field in Sunday’s win. All of his field goals came inside the restricted area.
Williamson scored for the last time with 2:07 left. His put-back dunk punctuated one of his best overall performances of the season.
“He looks great,” Green said. “He moves well. Go up and down the floor. We like where it is right now.
