THE The New Orleans Pelicans are entering a pivotal season for the future of their franchise. Zion Williamson is also facing a pivotal season for his future.
Williamson struggled to stay on the court through the first four years of his NBA career. When healthy, he showed flashes of the generational talent he possesses.
Unfortunately for the Pelicans, Williamson wasn’t available when they needed him most.
Looking ahead to the upcoming 2024-25 season, Williamson is hoping to have his best season yet. New Orleans appears to be a potential contender in the Western Conference if he can do so.
That being said, let’s take a look at some bold predictions for the 24-year-old star forward this season.
He plays in at least 72 games
First, availability is what the Pelicans need most from Williamson. They need him to stay healthy and on the court, especially come playoff time.
Williamson will be able to do just that. He will play at least 72 regular-season games and be available for the playoffs. He will finally start to come into his own when it comes to being on the field.
Williamson will average at least 25 points per game
Once again, New Orleans will be looking to run its offense through Williamson. He will respond by averaging at least 25 points per game throughout the season.
When healthy, there’s no stopping Williamson. At 6’2″, 280 pounds, he’s a force to be reckoned with and can go anywhere on the field. He’s primed for a big season on offense.
A career record in rebounds
Despite his size and extraordinary athleticism, Williamson never averaged more than 7.2 rebounds per game.
Jonas Valanciunas is gone and the Pelicans have failed to add another dominant big man. They’ll need their star forward to get more involved in rebounding. He’ll respond by averaging at least 8.5 rebounds per game, a career high.
New Orleans to reach playoffs thanks to Williamson’s leadership
In addition to the big individual numbers we expect from him, Williamson will also lead his team to success.
The Pelicans have the roster to become a top contender. A team with Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum should be a playoff team.
Not only will they be a playoff team, but they won’t even need to participate in the play-in tournament to get there.
