Zion Williamson once appeared destined to become one of the NBA’s defining superstars. Now, the New Orleans Pelicans forward cannot even crack the top 50 in ESPN’s ranking of the league’s best players for the 2026-27 season.
Williamson landed at No. 51, one spot below the portion of the ranking that will be released Wednesday. His position improved from No. 61 last year, but that hardly feels like a victory for a former No. 1 overall pick who was once viewed as a future MVP candidate.
The ranking is based on predicted production during the 2026-27 regular season. Williamson’s placement shows how dramatically expectations have changed. He is no longer being evaluated as a young superstar preparing to take over the league. Instead, Williamson is being compared with solid starters and productive role players.
ESPN’s NBA Rank placed Williamson at No. 51.
Zion Williamson’s healthy season produced mixed results
Williamson played 62 games last season, the second-highest total of his seven-year career. That should have been an encouraging development for New Orleans. Injuries had prevented Williamson from establishing any consistency, including an entire missed season in 2021-22.
The healthier year did not produce the dominant version of Williamson the Pelicans hoped to see. His 21 points per game represented the lowest scoring average of his career. His usage rate also dropped to a career low as New Orleans attempted to find a workable role for him in its offense.
Williamson remained nearly impossible to stop when he reached the paint. He averaged 15.4 paint points per game, the highest mark among NBA players who appeared in at least 40 games. The problem is everything that happens before and after those paint touches.
Williamson does not consistently stretch the floor, making it easier for defenders to crowd the lane. His defensive limitations also create lineup problems for a Pelicans team that needs more reliable two-way production. The athletic ability remains obvious. The overall impact is no longer overwhelming enough to cover the weaknesses.
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Can Zion Williamson become an All-Star again?
Williamson has not made an All-Star team since 2023. He will turn 27 during the upcoming season, meaning he can no longer be treated as a developing prospect. The Pelicans need him to become a dependable franchise player now.
ESPN projected Williamson to average 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season. Those are strong numbers, but they are not dramatically different from the production available from several other forwards. Trey Murphy III, Williamson’s teammate, ranked 57th. The two New Orleans forwards are separated by only six spots despite entering the league with completely different expectations.
Murphy has become a valuable modern wing because he can shoot, defend and contribute without controlling the ball. Williamson needs the offense designed around his ability to attack the basket. That difference could eventually influence how New Orleans builds its roster.
Williamson remains one of the NBA’s most recognizable players. He still possesses a combination of power, speed and touch that few opponents can match. There also is time for another surge.
A healthy season in which Williamson increases his scoring, improves defensively and leads New Orleans into the playoffs would move him significantly higher in next year’s rankings. Until that happens, his reputation cannot carry him back into the league’s elite.
Williamson once entered seasons with questions about whether he could become the best player in the NBA. The more appropriate question now is whether he can prove he still belongs among its top 50.
