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Last season, Zion Williamson put up impressive stats, playing in 70 games and averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 57% from the field. Despite his strong performances, he was snubbed from the All-Star team and was not considered for an All-NBA team. Unfortunately, his season came to a premature end when he pulled his hamstring during a 40-point game against the Lakers in the play-in tournament, leaving him unable to help his team in the postseason. One of the defining moments of the season was the finals of the NBA's In-Season Tournament, where LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Lakers to a dominant victory over the Pelicans. This highlighted the gap between the two teams and showcased the superior talent and experience of the Lakers compared to the young Pelicans squad.

Williamson told William Guillory of The Athletic

"I'm out for straight vengeance," Williamson said. "Not against any particular person. Just for myself.”

Zion said it all started when the Lakers ran the Pelicans off the court in Las Vegas.

"(The In-Season Tournament loss) was definitely one of the key turning points in the season, and honestly, for me as a man in my career," Williamson says. "I'm watching (LeBron James) out here on the court, doing what he's doing. I'm telling myself I want to be a player that has a high level of greatness — one of the greats. In that big moment, I didn't show up. It hit me while the game was going on. I just looked up and said, 'I didn't show up.' I don't have any excuse.”

If your reaction to all this is, "We've seen this movie before," you're not wrong — Zion has talked before multiple seasons about a change in his mindset, his diet, his relationship with his teammates, and more. This report says what is different this time is that he is working more closely with the Pelicans (certainly not something that was always the case), and his teammates and the Pelicans say this feels different.

We're past the talking and on to the "prove it" stage with Zion. Actions, not words. It's on him.

The Pelicans have a lot of talent on the roster — they added Dejonte Murray but still have no center — and could finish in the top six in the West or out of the playoffs altogether. In a deep conference where little things will separate teams, Zion being elite would make the Pelicans potential fringe contenders. He's got that potential.

We just need to see it in more than flashes. And he's got to stay healthy.