Joe Dumars, the newly appointed executive vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, is reportedly encouraged by what he’s seen from Zion Williamson.
The Hall of Famer and longtime front office executive replaced David Griffin earlier this offseason and has quickly taken a hands-on approach with the organization’s franchise cornerstone.
During an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, senior NBA reporter Marc J. Spears said Dumars has been notably present alongside Williamson during Summer League action.
“It’s not every day in Summer League that you see a GM sitting next to a star player during an entire game,” Spears said. “From what I’m hearing from Joe [Dumars], he’s been really, really impressed with Zion.”
Williamson, who played just 30 games during the 2024–25 season due to multiple injuries and a one-game suspension, has remained a polarizing figure due to his immense potential and limited availability.
Despite those setbacks, his production when active remains elite. He averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals on 56.7% shooting during the regular season, including two triple-doubles in March.
Dumars, known for his player development philosophy and championship pedigree, appears to be investing in Williamson’s long-term growth both on and off the court.
“When Zion plays… they win,” Spears added. “Trey [Murphy III] is a problem from outside, Irv [Herbert Jones] is one of the great defenders in the league, Dejounte Murray, when he comes back, the Pelicans will be a problem.”
Williamson began the 2024–25 campaign healthy but missed 27 games after a hamstring strain in November.
He returned in January but was briefly suspended for being late to a team flight—a decision head coach Willie Green attributed to “several occasions” of team rule violations.
The former No. 1 overall pick, now entering his seventh NBA season, has faced criticism for his durability but continues to post top-tier numbers when available.
With Dumars now steering the franchise, New Orleans appears committed to maximizing Williamson’s talent while reinforcing accountability within the organization.
