Player Dossier

Zion Williamson

NOP · 2025-26Franchise engineHigh evidence

Post hub · Primary creator · Rim-pressure finisher · Helper / rotator · Weakside rim helper

What does Zion Williamson actually supply on the floor?

Zion Williamson's strongest evidenced functions are rim pressure, interior finishing, creation; the weakest available areas are shooting, event creation, rim protection. The profile is tied to NOP for 2025-26.

Function profile

2025-26 — eleven separate readings on a league scale. They are not additive.

Creation71

Rim pressure78

Shooting*43

Passing62

Screening*—

Interior finish76

Point of attack*—

Switch coverage*—

Rim protection52

Event creation50

Rebounding68

* limited evidence for that function. A dash means the evidence was insufficient — not a zero. Use the separate function strengths to evaluate role and roster fit; do not treat them as one player-value score. POA or switch conclusions require lineup, matchup, and assignment evidence beyond this profile.

Season by season

Every governed season profile on record.

Season	Team	Role	Evidence	Creation	Rim pressure	Shooting	Passing	Screening	Interior finish	Point of attack	Switch coverage	Rim protection	Event creation	Rebounding
2025-26	NOP	Franchise engine	High evidence	71	78	43	62	—	76	—	—	52	50	68
2024-25	NOP	—	Mixed coverage	73	76	43	71	52	67	44	47	59	69	73
2023-24	NOP	—	High evidence	78	79	47	73	—	77	51	58	57	64	59
2022-23	NOP	—	High evidence	69	77	53	63	—	73	49	52	47	62	70
2020-21	NOP	—	High evidence	65	83	50	62	48	77	46	41	54	48	56
2019-20	NOP	—	Mixed coverage	50	70	54	46	—	78	—	—	42	41	65

What teams depended on him for

Seasons where a team's situation report named him a dependency case.

NOP · 2025-26Observed replacement lineup exists

NOP had a supported lineup path without Zion Williamson: [Saddiq Bey, Herbert Jones, Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen] at 2.8 adjusted net points per 100 possessions over 222 possessions. This is an observed option, not proof it is universally better.

rotation 47%loses 20.9% of interior finish

Replacement evidence

Best observed five without him

Saddiq Bey · Herbert Jones · Trey Murphy III · Jeremiah Fears · Derik Queen

shrunk net 2.8030 over 222 possessions

on floor 3412 possessions · off floor 3859 possessions

NOP · 2024-25Lineup performance dependence

NOP lineups performed 8.5 points per 100 possessions better with Zion Williamson than without him. The best supported alternative was [CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Javonte Green, Trey Murphy III, Yves Missi] over 188 possessions.

rotation 22%loses 13.6% of creation

Replacement evidence

Best observed five without him

CJ McCollum · Dejounte Murray · Javonte Green · Trey Murphy III · Yves Missi

shrunk net 0.2340 over 188 possessions

on floor 1632 possessions · off floor 5667 possessions

NOP · 2023-24Single-skill dependence

NOP did not have strong functional backup for Zion Williamson in interior finish; removing him cost about 33.9% of the team's production in that area. The next observed option was Jonas Valanciunas.

rotation 53%loses 33.9% of interior finish

Replacement evidence

Best observed five without him

CJ McCollum · Larry Nance Jr. · Brandon Ingram · Herbert Jones · Trey Murphy III

shrunk net 4.2040 over 199 possessions

on floor 4147 possessions · off floor 3469 possessions

NOP · 2022-23Lineup performance dependence

NOP lineups performed 4.3 points per 100 possessions better with Zion Williamson than without him. The best supported alternative was [Jonas Valanciunas, CJ McCollum, Josh Richardson, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy III] over 173 possessions.

rotation 24%loses 12.2% of interior finish

Replacement evidence

Best observed five without him

Jonas Valanciunas · CJ McCollum · Josh Richardson · Naji Marshall · Trey Murphy III

shrunk net 3.8160 over 173 possessions

on floor 1788 possessions · off floor 5530 possessions

NOP · 2020-21Player function-loss evidence unavailable

NOP did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on Zion Williamson.

rotation 58%

Replacement evidence

Best observed five without him

Eric Bledsoe · Steven Adams · Brandon Ingram · Lonzo Ball · Josh Hart

shrunk net 4.4370 over 185 possessions

on floor 3789 possessions · off floor 2497 possessions

NOP · 2019-20Lineup performance dependence

NOP lineups performed 5.1 points per 100 possessions better with Zion Williamson than without him. The best supported alternative was [JJ Redick, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Kenrich Williams, Jaxson Hayes] over 176 possessions.

rotation 19%loses 11.6% of interior finish

Replacement evidence

Best observed five without him

JJ Redick · Jrue Holiday · Brandon Ingram · Kenrich Williams · Jaxson Hayes

shrunk net 3.7280 over 176 possessions

on floor 1287 possessions · off floor 5241 possessions

Known contract calendar

Governed contract events naming this player — dates carry their honest quality.

NOP · 2025-26Contract control horizonJun 30, 2028

Zion Williamson has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2028 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.

NOP · 2024-25Contract control horizonJun 30, 2028

Zion Williamson has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2028 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. No extension-review trigger is applied yet.

Function scores, roles, dependence records and contract events are separate evidence. No combined player value, trade value or ranking is computed from them, and none of them is a causal impact claim.