For years, the New Orleans Pelicans have wondered, what if Zion Williamson stayed healthy? What if their young core developed on schedule? What if their potential turned into reality? Each season, the answers have been clouded by injuries, inconsistencies, and flashes of brilliance that never fully crystallized into sustained success.

However, this year feels a little different. This time, the question isn’t just what if – it’s why not now?

At the center of it all is Zion Williamson, the player who has embodied both the promise and frustration of the Pelicans’ franchise. Since entering the league in 2019, Zion has been a spectacle: a 6-foot-10 wingspan in a 6-foot-6 frame, capable of bulldozing defenders one moment and soaring above the rim the next. At his best, he is one of the league’s most unstoppable offensive forces, averaging 26 points per game on historic efficiency during his healthiest stretch.

But availability has been his greatest obstacle. In five NBA seasons, Williamson has played more than 60 games only twice in his career. His injuries have been a constant cloud, creating skepticism about whether New Orleans could ever truly build around him.

This summer, that narrative took a sharp turn. Zion arrived to training camp slimmer, noticeably more explosive, and carrying himself with a sense of focus that his teammates and coaches immediately noticed. The weight questions, once a persistent storyline, have been replaced by a new image: a player who has embraced the responsibility of leading a franchise.

A fit, determined Williamson changes everything for New Orleans. His ability to collapse defenses forces constant rotations, opening lanes for shooters like Trey Murphy III and creating easier looks for teammates. His sheer presence shifts scouting reports and stretches defenses in ways few players in the league can replicate. If he stays healthy, he isn’t just an All-Star – he’s an MVP-caliber player.

The defensive backbone

Yet, the Pelicans’ story isn’t just Zion anymore. Over the last two seasons, New Orleans has quietly built one of the league’s toughest defensive identities. Herb Jones has emerged as one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders, capable of smothering opposing stars with his length, anticipation, and discipline. His ability to neutralize scorers gives the Pelicans a weapon they can lean on in high-stakes moments.

Alongside Jones, Trey Murphy III has developed into more than just a shooter. His 3-and-D skill set, paired with growing confidence as a secondary scorer, gives New Orleans a wing duo that can both stretch the floor and guard multiple positions. Add in Jose Alvarado – the relentless spark plug who pressures the ball full-court and embodies the team’s grit – and the Pelicans’ backcourt and wing defense becomes the backbone of their identity.

Defense has often been overlooked when analyzing New Orleans, but it may be the key to unlocking consistency. In a Western Conference filled with offensive juggernauts, having versatile defenders who can match up across lineups is invaluable.

The new faces

Offseason moves also signal a commitment to balancing the roster. Jordan Poole, fresh off an uneven stint with Golden State and Washington, now has a chance to reinvent himself in New Orleans. Here, he doesn’t need to be a franchise cornerstone. Instead, he slides into a pivotal third option role, providing instant offense and shot creation alongside Williamson and Murphy. Poole’s streaky shooting can swing games, and in short bursts, he could be the X-factor that pushes the Pelicans over the top in tight contests.

Then there’s Kevon Looney, a player who embodies everything New Orleans has lacked: championship experience, toughness, and dependability. A three-time champion with the Warriors, Looney’s contributions won’t light up a box score, but his rebounding, screens, and defensive positioning will make the Pelicans harder to break down. For a team that has often folded late in games, Looney’s calm presence offers a stabilizing influence.

A familiar core, older and wiser

The beauty of this Pelicans roster lies in its continuity. This is not a team starting from scratch. Just three years ago, New Orleans was a 49-win squad that briefly held the top seed in the Western Conference. They pushed the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, even without a healthy Zion, showing glimpses of what their ceiling could be.

The core from that run – Alvarado, Murphy, Jones, and Williamson – is still intact. Now, they’re older, more seasoned, and carrying the scars of past disappointments. Experience is often the unspoken separator between contenders and pretenders, and the Pelicans have quietly built that experience over time.

For New Orleans, those lessons have accumulated. They’ve seen how injuries derail momentum. They’ve felt what it’s like to lose a winnable series. And now, with a healthier roster and a leader in peak condition, they’re ready to apply those lessons.

However, make no mistake: the Western Conference is brutal. Oklahoma City, Denver, Houston, and Minnesota all remain strong. Golden State and both teams in LA are still lurking. But in a year where the balance of power feels more spread out than usual, there’s room for a team like New Orleans to make a leap.

For the Pelicans, the stakes are clear. If Zion stays healthy and this roster gels, they are capable of winning at least 45, maybe even 50 games and securing one of the 6 playoff spots in the West. They have the depth, the defense, and now, perhaps for the first time, the maturity to sustain success.

But if health issues resurface, or if Zion falters, the narrative could turn quickly. Questions about the franchise’s direction would resurface, and the burden of wasted potential would hang heavier than ever. This season isn’t just about competing – it’s about proving that the Pelicans can finally move past the all the what ifs from previous seasons.

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Hope is a fragile thing in sports. For New Orleans, it has often felt like a tease. But this time, there’s a different energy around the team. Zion’s transformation has given the franchise and its fans something tangible to believe in. The roster, deeper and more balanced than ever, provides legitimate optimism. And the core, tested by setbacks, feels ready to take the next step.

The Pelicans have everything they need to succeed: a superstar ready to reclaim his place among the league’s best, a defensive identity that can withstand the West’s firepower, and the supporting cast to fill gaps when stars rest.

For the first time in a long time, New Orleans doesn’t have a question of what if. It feels like a statement: why not now?