NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 7, 2023

Zion Williamson

New Orleans Pelicans

Semifinal Postgame

Lakers 133, Pelicans 89

Q. Zion, when we talked to Willie, one of the things he said was disappointing about tonight was just a lack of competitive spirit. I guess, what did you see out there?

ZION WILLIAMSON: I agree. I agree with what coach said.

Q. What was kind of the root of that problem, in your opinion?

ZION WILLIAMSON: Just competing. We weren't us. We weren't competing tonight.

Q. Obviously, this is a unique experience for you, you haven't played in a lot of high-stakes games in the NBA, what can you learn from this?

ZION WILLIAMSON: I got to be better. I got to be more aggressive finding my shot. I got to do more things to get my team going. I think I was too laid back tonight. Just, I can't do that. Defensively, I got to be better.

Q. These last two games, have you felt it's a higher level of play? Do you feel like this is a good kind of test for being in the Playoffs when that time comes?

ZION WILLIAMSON: I haven't played in the Playoffs, but from what I've seen so far, I think it's a good, I think it was a good test.

Q. It was one that really got away from you guys tonight. What did you see in that stretch? Why it was so lopsided?

ZION WILLIAMSON: We weren't competing. Every time they got a rebound, they pushed it in transition. Whether we scored or missed, they got out in transition, and they played great offense.

Q. You mentioned both sides of the court for you. First, defensively, what did you want to do differently from what you did tonight?

ZION WILLIAMSON: I just got to be more aggressive. I got to be smarter on defense. I think a lot of times I'm over thinking it and I shouldn't be doing that out there.

Q. When you see a guy play off you the way LeBron was, what do you want to do to try to attack that style of defense?

ZION WILLIAMSON: I'll be trying to get my teammates involved, but with situations like that, I got to be more aggressive, it's just as simple as that, I just got to be more aggressive.

Q. Willie said that LeBron knows how to take advantage of these moments, and he's someone that you were obviously compared to a lot coming into the league. Do you still kind of look at him and see how he attacks moments like this for kind of like an example of how to put a franchise on your shoulders? Is that something that you're evaluating?

ZION WILLIAMSON: Absolutely. Like I said, I got to be more aggressive. He was aggressive. His teammates saw that and the energy carried over. So, I got to just be more aggressive and get off to better starts in games.

Q. As a former athlete, when you look over film and stuff you say, like, I need to be more aggressive, but what are some ways that you are going to try to figure out what that is for yourself?

ZION WILLIAMSON: Just looking to score. I have a problem where I literally just try to hunt the best shot possible every time, but my teammates, they expect more from me, I expect more from myself, and I got to just trust my game. I just got to be more aggressive. I think if I'm more aggressive, then that energy will definitely carry over.