Why Zion Williamson will ‘fail’ in 2026 loss

The The New Orleans Pelicans are resilient another rough season, going a poor 8-26 after a recent loss to the New York Knicks. For most teams in such dire straits, the news would be dysfunction, finger-pointing and inevitable rebuilding. However, the interim head coach James Borrego see a young company on the edge of a breakthrough with Zion Williamson and Derrick Queennot a malfunction.

Borrego’s assessment begins with heart and cohesion which often separate the candidates from the also-rans.

“I love our competition factor, where this team is, how much they care and believe in each other,” Borrego began. “We competed (against the Knicks), and that’s all you can do. Just keep banging on that door. Keep knocking. Just keep knocking, and we’re going to break it down.”

It’s the kind of optimism that might ring hollow from a coach trying to turn around a losing season, but Borrego’s words carry weight when examining what’s going on beneath the surface in New Orleans. The Pelicans don’t lose because of effort or chemistry. No, this group of baby-faced Big Easys is losing because of execution at key moments, the kind of late-game mistakes young teams make before they learn how to win. These are problems that can be corrected.

“We cleaned up the boards (against the Knicks), which is significant,” Borrego added. “I think we found something here (with Looney). We’ve just got to build on that and figure out how to close out games, like the games in Phoenix. In the previous five-game winning streak, we realized we could close things out a little bit better.”

Without a doubt, despite their record, the Pelicans showed flashes of true competitiveness in December. They recently put together a five-game winning streak that showed what this team can be when things click. The problem wasn’t their ability to compete for three and a half quarters; it is their inability to finish what they start.

“There are some things down the stretch in terms of execution where we have to be better,” Borrego sighed. “We were trying to execute something down the stretch, and it just wasn’t going our way.”

This is where the optimism for 2026 becomes palpable. Borrego’s Pelicans are still putting the pieces together and finally finding success.

“Sometimes it’s just the effort. The bottom line. Sometimes it’s the execution, sometimes it’s a little bit of both, and you need a stop,” Borrego explained. “You need something down the stretch. We had some good looks that didn’t fall, but the boards were huge tonight and (Looney) was a big part of that. Just having another vet out there, it keeps us all calm, and he’s a great communicator.”

Still, the reason to believe in potential upside in 2026 based on an All-Star resume comes down to Zaon Williamson.

When healthy and engaged, Williamson remains one of the most physically dominant forces in basketball. Fortunately, according to Borrego, the team’s longest-tenured player is thriving.

“(Williamson) has been fantastic. His energy on both ends of the floor, his rebounding, his defense, he looks fresh to me. He’s hungry; he looks engaged,” Borrego said. “Nothing but positive things to say about Z. He was fantastic.”

This cannot be overstated. For years, questions about Williamson’s preparation, dedication and stamina have overshadowed his undeniable talent. When he was on the field, he was spectacular, but the “when” was the problem. If Williamson has truly turned a corner, if he truly is physically and mentally locked down, the entire trajectory of this franchise changes.

The 25-year-old’s presence changes the way defenses must approach the Pelicans, creating easier opportunities for teammates and providing the kind of scoring option every contending team needs in a tight fourth quarter.

The metaphor of Borrego’s door captures the moment perfectly. The door the Pelicans keep knocking on won’t stay closed forever. And when it finally opens in 2026, don’t be surprised if Zion Williamson and Derrick Queen are the players to take it down.