Shaquille O’Neal believes Zion Williamson has much more to prove in order to silence his critics. Williamson, the franchise cornerstone for the New Orleans Pelicans, entered the league with immense hype.
Despite his undeniable talent, Williamson has struggled to stay healthy and stay in consistent shape since his NBA career took off, which has led to heavy criticism from fans and NBA personalities.
Williamson’s recent triple-double performance in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers may have temporarily quieted some of the doubters, but O’Neal was quick to make it clear that Zion still has a long way to go.
Shaquille O’Neal Demands More From Zion Williamson
As someone who knows what it takes to dominate the NBA, O’Neal discussed Williamson’s performance on a postgame show. Even though Zion posted 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, O’Neal wasn’t impressed, stating that anything less than 28 points is not enough for a franchise player.
Shaq critiques Zion’s 22-10-12 performance
“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”😅
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 ) pic.twitter.com/oJENda9hH5
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 12, 2025
“Yeah, I need more…Don’t be giving him props for 20 points. Anybody can get 20 points…That’s good, but that’s not good enough. You need to do more, Zion. I love you, but 20 points? Nah, I need 28,” O’Neal remarked.
O’Neal emphasized that the Pelicans’ lack of success this season should serve as the perfect opportunity for Williamson to dominate and put up big numbers. Currently, the Pelicans are near the bottom of the Western Conference standings and have little hope of making the playoffs.
Whether or not Williamson should have scored more, his triple-double performance undoubtedly helped the Pelicans secure a much-needed win over the Clippers. Zion has played just 27 games so far this season, averaging 24.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
While Williamson’s averages are better than most players in the league, O’Neal has clearly set a higher standard for the young star. He believes Zion should not be satisfied with these performances, especially with the NBA transitioning into a modern era where young stars need to seize the moment.
Although a deep postseason run seems unlikely for the Pelicans this year, the team’s priority should be keeping Williamson healthy for the remainder of this season and the foreseeable future.