Zion Williamson Urged to Expand Shooting Range After Rare 3-Pointer

The Pelicans star's next step in development is clear after his comments about wanting to shoot more from outside.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 12:20pm

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, a two-time All-Star, made his first 3-pointer of the season in a recent game against the Golden State Warriors. Williamson, who leads the league in points scored in the paint, has been urged by teammates and fans to expand his shooting range. In postgame comments, Williamson acknowledged his hesitation to shoot from outside, saying "I just hate when I miss" and not wanting to "waste a team's possession." With the Pelicans out of playoff contention, the final 23 games of the season provide a good opportunity for Williamson to work on his outside shot and become a more well-rounded offensive threat.

Why it matters

Williamson's ability to get to the rim at will is impressive, but adding a consistent outside shot would make him an even more dangerous offensive player. Defenses often sag into the lane to take away his drives, so developing a reliable 3-point shot could open up more driving lanes for him and his teammates. Improving his outside shooting would also benefit the Pelicans as they look to build a contender around Williamson in the coming years.

The details

In his first two NBA seasons, Williamson made 16 3-pointers. Over the last four years, he's only made 17, while averaging about 13 attempts from deep per season. This season, Williamson's first 3-pointer came in a recent game against the Warriors, a rarity for the powerful forward. Williamson acknowledged his hesitation to shoot from outside, saying "I just hate when I miss" and not wanting to "waste a team's possession." With the Pelicans out of playoff contention, the final 23 games provide a good opportunity for Williamson to focus on expanding his shooting range.

  • Williamson made his first 3-pointer of the season on February 25, 2026.
  • Williamson has only made 17 3-pointers over the last four NBA seasons.

The players

Zion Williamson

A two-time NBA All-Star and power forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, known for his dominant inside scoring but has struggled to develop a consistent outside shot.

New Orleans Pelicans

An NBA franchise based in New Orleans, Louisiana that is currently in rebuilding mode and out of playoff contention, providing an opportunity for Williamson to focus on expanding his game.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I'm definitely going to look for it more, I just hate when I miss. It's not that I don't want to shoot them, I hate when I miss. I just don't want to feel like I wasted a team's possession, but I'm definitely going to incorporate it more.”

— Zion Williamson (Pelicans Film Room)

What’s next

With the Pelicans out of playoff contention, the final 23 games of the season provide a good opportunity for Williamson to focus on expanding his shooting range and becoming a more well-rounded offensive threat.

The takeaway

Zion Williamson's ability to score at will in the paint is impressive, but adding a consistent 3-point shot to his arsenal would make him an even more dangerous offensive player. Developing an outside shot could open up more driving lanes for Williamson and his teammates, benefiting the Pelicans as they look to build a contender around their young star.