Pelicans' Zion Williamson Targets Olympics Debut

The young star hopes to represent Team USA at the international level.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 6:39pm

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has revealed his desire to play for the United States in the Olympics. Despite dealing with injuries early in his NBA career, the 25-year-old All-Star is feeling healthier and more mobile than ever, and sees representing his country on the global stage as a major goal.

Why it matters

Williamson's Olympic aspirations show his commitment to reaching the highest levels of the sport and competing against the world's best players. If he's able to stay healthy and earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, it would be a major milestone in his career and could help raise his profile even further.

The details

In a recent interview, Williamson expressed his desire to play for Team USA in the Olympics, saying 'It's definitely a goal for me, and it would be a huge honor to represent my country.' However, he acknowledged that he'll need to prove he deserves a spot on the team, stating 'I can sit here and talk but I gotta go out there and earn my spot and show them why I feel like I deserve a spot.'

  • Williamson suffered a foot fracture in 2021, which has limited his availability since then.
  • The next Summer Olympics are scheduled for 2028 in Los Angeles.

The players

Zion Williamson

A 25-year-old forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, Williamson is a two-time NBA All-Star who has dealt with injuries early in his career but is now feeling healthier and more mobile than ever.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely a goal for me, and it would be a huge honor to represent my country in the Olympics. But that goes back to, 'I just gotta make it happen.' I can sit here and talk but I gotta go out there and earn my spot and show them why I feel like I deserve a spot.”

— Zion Williamson (ClutchPoints)

“I'm having a lot of fun right now. Just being able to get up and know that I can just go play free in NBA games and not have to worry about injuries.”

— Zion Williamson (ClutchPoints)

What’s next

Williamson will need to continue his strong play in the NBA and stay healthy in order to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

Zion Williamson's Olympic aspirations demonstrate his drive to reach the highest levels of basketball and compete against the world's best players. If he can stay healthy and earn a spot on the U.S. team, it would be a major milestone in his career and could help cement his status as one of the NBA's premier young stars.