As the New Orleans Pelicans move towards another season of missing the playoffs, franchise player Zion Williamson could be at a crossroads in his career. Williamson is inching closer to the prime of his career, but his health remains a major question mark. An ESPN Analyst recently called out Williamson after he suffered his latest injury setback.
Vincent Goodwill Calls Zion Williamson a Disappointment, but Still Has Time To Fix It
ESPN NBA Analyst Vincent Goodwill sent Williamson a warning shot regarding the future of his career. Discussing Williamson on First Take, Goodwill said, “I look at Zion like not a bust, but a disappointment, who still has some runway left to change the narrative around his story.
“Like we don’t pay attention to the New Orleans Pelicans because of how bad they’ve been, but him playing 35 straight games, that’s the longest mark of his career. I think he’s finally starting to get it, I’m just hopeful that we won’t look at him and Ja Morant and be like, man those guys came in with such hype, what happened to em.”
“I look at a Zion like not a bust, but a disappointment. Who still has some runway left to change the narrative around his story.”@VinceGoodwill shares his thoughts on Zion Willamson’s comments about his difficult times during injury 🏀 pic.twitter.com/uJInmSYhh0
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 3, 2026
Williamson suffered an ankle injury in a recent game against the Jazz, only playing 11 minutes before exiting the game. He also shared some candid thoughts regarding the mental toll that his injuries have caused, saying that the criticism has been tough to take and that he wants to be on the court as much as possible.
As Goodwill points out, the two-time All-Star has been relatively healthy this season and remains productive, averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He’s on pace to appear in 50 or more games for just the third time in six seasons.
With Williamson averaging 24.1 points per game in his career and making multiple All-Star teams, as Goodwill points out, it would be inaccurate to label the 2019 first overall pick a bust. However, he has been disappointing relative to expectations, as he really hasn’t elevated the Pelicans’ franchise.
The Pelicans have clinched another losing season, as they’re currently 19-43. Williamson has yet to make his postseason debut, which has prevented him from truly breaking out as one of the NBA’s top stars.
With the unique structure of Williamson’s contract, he could be on the move this summer, especially as the Pelicans still seem a season or two away from contention. Regardless of what happens, Goodwill believes Williamson still has time to change the course of his career.
