Pelicans’ Larry Nance Jr. Issues Strong Statement On Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram

New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. believes All-Stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are built to carry “the weight of the organization.”

Williamson and Ingram are the Pelicans’ two best players and both guys are off to strong starts this season.

“They’re the heartbeat of this team. The heartbeat of this organization. They know it. These two can carry the weight of the organization. They’re that great,” Nance Jr. said, via The Athletic. “I think the message is always that you have to continue to be worthy of that. Being worthy of that is showing up and being great every day. They don’t have to be vocal. We have people who can do that. They have to go out there and show it, and we’re going to follow.”

The Pelicans are 9-8 on the season. They are 5-2 over their last seven games and it looks like the team meeting the players had worked.

“As a team, we weren’t on the same page before. Now, we’re on the same page,” Williamson said. “We had a team meeting. We talked about what we want to do as a unit. That’s what we’re going to live and die with. Since we’re all on the same page, I think we’ve been gelling together a lot better.”

Ingram is averaging 24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists on the season for the Pelicans, while Williamson is averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

“There’s definitely a lot of progress that’s been made,” Williamson said. … “We both want the same thing, but we haven’t been on the court a lot together. The more we’re on the court together, the more our chemistry will build.”

The Pelicans missed the playoffs last season. If they want to make it this season, Williamson and Ingram will have to continue to play at a high level.