Zion Williamson called for accountability after the New Orleans Pelicans lost their fourth straight game, 145-111 to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. He said the team needs to look itself in the mirror.
“Unacceptable,” Williamson said after the game. “I don’t even have a lot of words. Just unacceptable.”
Williamson scored 29 points for the Pelicans, who have given up 138 points or more in three straight games and have lost their past two by more than 30. New Orleans suffered a franchise-record 51-point defeat, 138-87, to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.
“As men we have to, as a unit, players, coaches, everybody, you have to go look yourself in the mirror when you by yourself and say, did I do everything that I needed to do for my team?” Williamson said. “Did I do—was I in the gaps on defence? Was I a low man when I was supposed to? Did I get out there and contest shots to make it tough on them? Did I do everything I needed to do? Did I give in real effort?”
A Difficult Start to the Season
The loss dropped New Orleans to 4-8 on the season. It is another dismal start for a franchise that has made the playoffs only twice in the past eight years and has not won a playoff series since 2018.
Williamson has never appeared in a playoff game since the Pelicans selected him No. 1 overall in 2019. Injuries have repeatedly disrupted the former Duke star’s career. He still played in 62 games last season and has sat out only one game so far this campaign, while averaging 21 points.
“I said nobody likes to lose like this, but if we don’t like to lose like this, we have to start with ourselves first,” Williamson said. “Look in the mirror and say, did I do what I needed to do for my team? Not individually. Did I do what I needed to do for my team? And then we go from there.”
Injury Update and Next Game
The Pelicans were without starting wing Trey Murphy III for a second straight game because of knee soreness. New Orleans next hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.