League: NBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Pelicans look to Zion Williamson and new coaching staff for improvement

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 8, 2026, 2:06 AM

Last updated Sep 8, 2026

Pelicans look to Zion Williamson and new coaching staff for improvement

Summary

The New Orleans Pelicans head into the 2026 NBA season seeking to improve after missing the playoffs in consecutive years. With minimal roster turnover, the team relies on the development of Zion Williamson and the integration of Bennedict Mathurin to elevate performance. Williamson enters the season with a focus on health and expanding his offensive range to include more mid-range shots. The front office also overhauled the coaching staff, installing a group prioritized for its defensive expertise. The Pelicans intend to move past previous struggles by establishing a tougher team identity. Management expects Mathurin to contribute significantly as the lone major offseason addition.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Zion Williamson enters the season having focused on health and increased mid-range shot attempts.
•Bennedict Mathurin joins the team as the only significant offseason roster addition.
•The team implemented a new coaching staff focused on improving defensive performance.
•New Orleans aims to improve after failing to reach 30 wins in each of the past two seasons.

Latest Updates