On Monday night, Zion Williamson, a piñata for national pundits in recent days, responded in the best way possible: with a 36-point outburst in a season-best win over Minnesota. It was the second 30-plus-point effort for Williamson in recent days, quieting (for now) the critics who have largely wondered the same thing.
What’s wrong with Zion Williamson?
On paper, Williamson is having a solid season. He’s averaging 23 points. He’s shooting 58.4%. His assist numbers (4.7 per game) are a career best. But his scoring and field goal percentages are down from last season, his rebounding (5.6) is a career low and he has not played with the same explosiveness in years past. That has opened the door for criticism from the likes of Shaquille O’Neal (“He does not run hard.”), Charles Barkley (“He's gotta get in shape.”) and Stephen A. Smith (“The word out on Zion Williamson is that he’ll eat the table.”)
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On Monday, Williamson shrugged off the criticism.
“It’s been like that since I was 16 years old,” said Williamson. “Since I came onto the scene. If I want to be one of the best players in the league, if we don’t win in a big moment or something bad happens, then that’s to be expected.”
The microscope on Williamson is understandable. The Pelicans are a contender. They are 13–11, two games back of the No. 3 seed in the conference. The efficiency numbers are middle of the pack, but as players have returned from injuries, those numbers have been improving. When Williamson is on his game, as he was against Minnesota, the Pels are dynamic.
Williamson’s play Monday—which followed a 33-point, eight-rebound, three-steal effort in a late-November win over Philadelphia—is a good sign. If he continues to improve, New Orleans will be a tough out. As for the critics, Williamson’s response was simple.
“If it comes from a great place and a place where they just want to see me do better, thank you,” Williamson said. “But if it comes from anywhere else, everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Can’t control that.”
Let’s jump into Sports Illustrated’s latest NBA power rankings …
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last week: 1
How good is Minnesota? We’re about to find out. Monday’s loss to the Pelicans was the first of 16 straight games the T-Wolves will play against teams currently above .500. A continued positive sign for Minnesota: Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns have collected 10 double doubles in the same game this season, the best among NBA duos.
2. Boston Celtics
Last week: 2
The Celtics have won 17 straight home games dating back to last season, with the next four at TD Garden. How important is the three to Boston’s offense? The Celtics are 14–0 when shooting at least .333 from three, and 2–5 when shooting less.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week: 5
From the “No player has ever” department: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.4 points on 55% shooting and 2.77 steals. No player has ever averaged 30+ points on at least 55% shooting and 2.5 or more steals.
4. Denver Nuggets
Last week: 3
Jamal Murray’s return will inject some badly needed firepower to the Nuggets’ bench. Denver’s second unit is 25th in net rating, sandwiched between the Wizards and Jazz. Yikes.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
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Last week: 6
Joel Embiid’s scoring, rebounding and assist numbers are up from last season, and with Philly just 1½ games back of the top spot in the East, Embiid is right back in the MVP conversation.
6. Orlando Magic
Last week: 4
Toss Cole Anthony’s name into the Sixth Man of the Year mix. Anthony’s scoring (15.4 points), and he’s a career-best 36.5% from three-point range. These aren’t huge jumps from previous seasons. But this year, he’s doing it for a winner.
7. Milwaukee Bucks
Last week: 7
Adrian Griffin’s bumpy first season hit a pothole last week when Bobby Portis reportedly took him to task after Milwaukee looked disorganized down the stretch of a loss to Indiana in the in-season tournament semifinal.
8. Los Angeles Lakers
Last week: 13
Your inaugural in-season tournament champions have been getting it done defensively. Over the last 10 games, L.A. is No. 2 in defensive rating, highlighted by the defensive stranglehold the Lakers put Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers in during the in-season tournament final. With Gabe Vincent closing in on a return, L.A. will enter the meat of its schedule with a full roster.
9. Indiana Pacers
Last week: 11
Are the Pacers preparing to load up? Recent reports suggest Indiana is looking to push its chips in around this Haliburton-led roster. Three-and-D wings like Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby could be of interest. The Pacers love shooting the three—top 10 in three-point percentage and attempts—and badly need help shoring up their bottom-five defense.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
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Last week: 9
CJ McCollum has played in five games since returning from a lung issue. New Orleans has won four of them, with McCollum racking up 23 points in 29 minutes against Minnesota.
11. Sacramento Kings
Last week: 10
Domantas Sabonis is a rebounding machine. Sabonis is averaging 12.3 rebounds, the third-highest average this season. He ranks fourth in total rebounds (259), and has racked up 73 offensive rebounds (eighth) and 186 defensive boards (third), as he is one of five players to rank in the top 10 in offensive, defensive and total rebounds this season.
12. New York Knicks
Last week: 8
Mitchell Robinson will miss 8–10 weeks following left ankle surgery. This means the Knicks will head out on an extended road trip without their defensive anchor—a big stretch for Robinson replacements Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims.
13. Dallas Mavericks
Last week: 14
Dereck Lively’s numbers in the last five games: 12 points (on 82.9% shooting), 10 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.
14. Los Angeles Clippers
Last week: 16
L.A. is 9–3 over its last 12 games and fifth in defensive rating (110.1) during that stretch.
15. Houston Rockets
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Last week: 20
The Rockets righted the ship last week, collecting wins over Oklahoma City and Denver. Aaron Holiday has given Houston a nice lift: In his last four games Holiday is averaging 12 points and connecting on 62.5% of his threes.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last week: 15
As good as Evan Mobley is defensively and on the glass, it’s disappointing that in Year 3 he is still a nonfactor from beyond the arc, attempting just 10 three-pointers this season. If the Cavs are going to win with a double-big lineup, Mobley has to develop a three-point shot.
17. Phoenix Suns
Last week: 12
Bradley Beal is back tonight!
18. Brooklyn Nets
Last week: 19
Look—I love Cam Thomas. He’s been effective in the pick-and-roll and relentless on drives. But Brooklyn needs fewer sub-40% shooting nights from Thomas. In Monday’s loss to Sacramento, Thomas scored 20 points—but needed 21 shots to do it.
19. Miami Heat
Last week: 17
Four games against the Hornets and Bulls should help the Heat build some momentum before a tough holiday stretch. Meanwhile, the Duncan Robinson revival (42.6% from three) continues to be one of the better early-season stories.
20. Golden State Warriors
Last week: 18
The Warriors are 27th in turnovers per game (15.9). That stinks.
21. Chicago Bulls
Last week: 23
What’s got into Coby White? He scored 33 points in a narrow loss to Milwaukee on Monday and has topped 20 in five of the last seven games. In Year 5 in Chicago, White’s scoring, field goal percentage and three-point percentage are career highs.
22. Atlanta Hawks
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Last week: 21
Trae Young is shooting a career-low 41.2%, and the Hawks are looking more and more like a team ready to make a significant deal in the coming months.
23. Charlotte Hornets
Last week: 27
Miles Bridges is averaging 20 points on 50% from the floor and 41.1% from three-point range.
24. Toronto Raptors
Last week: 24
The Raptors have three winnable home games against Atlanta (twice) and Charlotte to stop a six-loss-in-seven-game skid. After that, they have matchups with Denver and Philly followed by a weeks-long, road-heavy schedule. Some tough decisions could be coming in Toronto.
25. Portland Trail Blazers
Last week: 26
A strong effort against the Clippers on Monday was encouraging, but Scoot Henderson’s shooting numbers are ugly. Henderson is connecting on 35.4% of his shots and just 22.2% of his threes.
26. Utah Jazz
Last week: 22
We noted Utah’s tough upcoming schedule here last week, and it’s been just that. The Jazz have dropped three straight, all by double digits, including a 50-point thrashing in Dallas last week. With seven of the next nine games on the road, it doesn’t get much easier.
27. Memphis Grizzlies
Last week: 25
Less than two weeks until Ja Morant is eligible to return.
28. Washington Wizards
Last week: 28
The Wizards are surrendering 60 points per game in the paint, among the many brutal statistics for the NBA’s 30th-ranked defense.
29. San Antonio Spurs
Last week: 29
So in addition to elite skills, Victor Wembanyama also has magic ankles?
30. Detroit Pistons
Twenty straight losses and counting for the Pistons.
