Zion Williamson Makes Pelicans History vs Mavericks

New Orleans Pelicans star Williamson joined some exclusive company with his historic night against the Dallas Mavericks

Feb 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson made history Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter. Williamson's basket gave him 5,000 career points, and he became the third-fastest active player in the NBA to achieve that feat, trailing just Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Williamson's historic feat was a franchise record for New Orleans, becoming the fastest player in team history with 5,000 points. The Pelicans hoped drafting the former Duke standout would change the franchise's fortune after the Anthony Davis era.

5️⃣K for Zion 😤 pic.twitter.com/sGn1tzECPt

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 22, 2025

Williamson has not participated in the playoffs since joining the Pelicans in 2019, missing out on opportunities in two of the last three seasons. New Orleans signed the two-time all-star to a five-year extension in 2022 but protected its interests with team-friendly protection for weight and play clauses incentives.

The former No. 1 overall pick has had his battles with multiple injuries throughout his time in the league.

Zion played in a career-high 70 games last season before injuring his hamstring in the Play-In Tournament game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Williamson again injured his hamstring this season, sidelining him for 27 straight games earlier in the year.

Zion Williamson is the fastest player in Pelicans franchise history to reach 5,000 career points. pic.twitter.com/y66kpMJ5TP

— StatMamba (@StatMamba) February 22, 2025

Since his return from injury, the Pelicans have been cautious with their star, playing him less than 30 minutes per game and withholding him from back-to-backs. New Orleans made their intention for their future clear after trading away Brandon Ingram this season, signaling a change for the reigns to be handed over to Williamson fully.

The Pelicans are currently 13-42 on the season, marking their first losing season in three years.

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