New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson Vows to Work On These 2 Things to Improve His Game in the Summer

So now that the offseason has started for him, Zion Williamson told local reporters that he plans to work on his defense and jump shot, particularly in the midrange area.

“I gotta give my respect to Naji, Dys, Jose, and y’all know 5. Watching them dudes do what they do, as a competitor, it’s one of those ‘I gotta get my s–t together.’ I can’t be the weak link. My offense is going to come, but my defense needs to be there,” Zion Williamson said on his defense via Pelicans Film Room on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“My teammates watch me work on my jumpers every day after practice. They’ll always be telling me ‘Dude shoot it. It looks good.’ It got to a point where I was like ‘why not?’ and I liked the results,” he added.

Zion Williamson for the New Orleans Pelicans this season

Zion Williamson had his healthiest season in a New Orleans Pelicans uniform this year, as he managed to play 71 games (70 in the regular season and one play-in game). He finished the 2023-24 campaign with averages of 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 57 percent shooting from the field.

New Orleans is expected to make changes this summer to improve their squad, but that’s not likely to include Zion Williamson, who is deemed as the team’s cornerstone.

One of the biggest decisions the New Orleans Pelicans will have to make in the offseason is whether they’ll extend or trade Brandon Ingram, although most fans want to see the latter, given his struggles in the first round.