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The New Orleans Pelicans have not won an NBA championship title since its creation. Belonging to the Western Conference Southwest Division, the Pelicans have won the division championship once in 2008.
For the Pelicans, winning an NBA championship is not entirely an impossibility, but others would consider it to be a tall tale. Zion Williamson might never get to win a title with the Pelicans and here are three reasons why.
Three reasons why Zion Williamson probably won't win an NBA title with the New Orleans Pelicans
#1 No supporting cast
Zion Williamson is a key player for New Orleans, leading the team in points and field goals in the 2020-21 NBA season. But even Michael Jordan needs his Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Horace Grant. While Brandon Ingram is also a good lad with immense talent, he is not just on the same level as Williamson.
Ingram's debut season in the NBA saw him average 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, having appeared in 71 games for the Lakers. That doesn't translate to star power, but Ingram has been consistent with his growth over time and was named the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year after making the All-Star team with an average of 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 62 appearances.
If Williamson is to win the championship with the Pelicans, they will need to build a formidable team around him by attracting him star powers to support him.
#2 Not a big market franchise
The New Orleans Pelicans are not exactly a big-market franchise, and with this comes lots of limitations. One of which is having their talented players leave to big market teams just when they seem to be building a formidable team. An example of this was the trade of Anthony Davis to the L.A. Lakers.
Budding players with ambitions are known to always make a move as a free agent to big markets or force one. This phenomenon has been seen as the norm and as such makes it difficult for small market teams to compete favorably in that regard.
#3 Absence of championship experience within the management
Since the creation of the New Orleans Pelicans, eight coaches have been tasked with managing the team, none of which have championship experience. Amongst the eight coaches, five have succeeded in taking the team to the playoffs.
The Pelicans have gone to the playoffs 7 times in their 20-season run in the NBA. They have gone the furthest under the management of Bryon Scott in the 2007-08 season and Alvin Gentry in the 2017-18 season. Both times they made it to the Western Conference Semifinals but were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors respectively. These are the closest they have gotten to a championship final.
Winning the championship requires quality and experience from all sections of the team and that includes the management.
