You’ll never see Zion Williamson short on confidence. But after his latest NBA performance, is it hard to blame him?
The New Orleans Pelicans star forward dominated the LA Clippers on Tuesday night as he dropped a 22-point triple-double to fuel a 127-120 victory. But it wasn’t just about the stat sheet, it was the way he did it.
Zion Williamson’s All-Around Brilliance Fuels Pelicans Win
The Clippers threw everything at Williamson, but it didn’t matter. The 6-foot-6 powerhouse bullied his way to 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.
- Second career triple-double
- 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in the fourth alone
- Completely took over when it mattered most
After the game, he doubled down on a statement he made earlier this season, one that Pelicans fans have been dying to see come true.
"I stand on that. When I am myself, I don't feel like nobody can stop me."
Zion Williamson after his 2nd career triple-double 🗣️pic.twitter.com/hfkBBmQdEx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 12, 2025
“When I am myself, I don’t feel like nobody can stop me.” And based on what he just did? He might be right.
Since returning from a hamstring injury, Williamson has looked better than ever, averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in his last 20 games. But beyond the numbers, it’s his mentality and conditioning that have really turned heads.
Reports in February revealed that he dropped 20 pounds, trimming from 284 to 264 pounds. And with his explosiveness back, he’s moving and finishing at the rim like peak Williamson again.
That’s bad news for the rest of the league.
Williamson Makes History Amid Criticism
Zion didn’t just dominate—he made history while doing it. In the fourth quarter alone, he dropped 10 points, grabbed 5 boards, and dished 5 dimes, making him the first Pelicans player ever to put up a 10/5/5 stat line in a single fourth quarter.
Zion Williamson became the first Pelicans player ever to record 10p/5r/5a in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/9KjhAdsdb1
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 12, 2025
Clutch? That’s an understatement. With the game on the line, he took over, proving exactly why he believes nobody can stop him when he’s at full strength.
Williamson might be shutting down defenses, but he still can’t silence the critics—not even Shaquille O’Neal. After his triple-double masterclass, Shaq wasn’t exactly impressed. “You’re giving him props for that?” the Hall of Famer scoffed.
Shaq after Zion dropped a triple double:
"You giving him props for that? I need more. Anybody can get 20 points now. That's not good enough. I'm not impressed by that" https://t.co/EKOcGxEpPL pic.twitter.com/EmhtpZzXxr
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) March 12, 2025
Tough love from one dominant big to another, but if Williamson keeps playing like this, Shaq might not have much left to complain about.
And he looks hell-bent on doing that. For a player who has faced constant scrutiny over injuries and conditioning, this felt like a turning point.
If this version of Williamson is here to stay, the Pelicans aren’t just making the playoffs—they’re making noise when they get there.