When he takes the court, Zion Williamson is still one of the most dynamic forces in basketball and an All-Star level talent. The problem is that, throughout his career, he hasn’t been on the court very often. Throughout his six-year career, Williamson has only suited up for 192 of a possible 430 games.
Thankfully for the New Orleans Pelicans, he’s back and seems (mostly) healthy, throwing down a 360 windmill dunk in his first game back from a lengthy injury absence on January 7. He’s played two out of four games since then, and overall this season, the Pelicans are just 2-6 when he suits up. He’s averaging 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game on putrid 46-20-66 shooting splits in 2024-25.
He doesn’t have an injury designation for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls, who are once again in the East’s Play-In Tournament picture. The Bulls have won five of their last eight games and will be in the friendly confines of the United Center, although they’re only 8-12 at home this season.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Pelicans are 1.5-point underdogs and the total is set for 241.5. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite prop bet centered around the high-flying southpaw.
Best Zion Williamson Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Zion Williamson 35+ Points + Rebounds + Assists (+100)
Chicago has been truly terrible on defense this season, allowing 115.4 points per 100 possessions, the eighth-worst defensive rating in basketball. The Bulls also play at the league’s second-fastest pace. Chicago has operated under a philosophy of winning shootouts, but its 13th-ranked offense hasn’t been good enough to do that.
It’s bad to be in any category with the Washington Wizards, who have the third-worst net rating in NBA history. It’s even more incriminating to be worse than the Wizards in any category. That’s the situation the Bulls find themselves in; they’ve allowed the second-most points per game and the second-most rebounds per game, ahead of only Washington, and the second-most assists per game, two spots lower than the Wizards.
For all of his flaws, Williamson is still supremely athletic and fairly well-rounded. He’s just one assist away from joining a 19-player list of players averaging 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game, all of whom are either virtual locks for the All-Star Game or would be if they were healthy. Especially as Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Herb Jones (shoulder) continue to miss time, New Orleans doesn’t have a lot of options beyond Williamson.
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