If there was a formula for large-scale success in the NBA, it would consist of an abundance of talent, a little luck and minimal health issues.
The Pelicans franchise has been on the precipice of large-scale success for years. With draft lottery luck, New Orleans selected Zion Williamson to be the franchise's centerpiece in 2019. Weeks after drafting Williamson, the Pelicans received a trade haul headlined by Brandon Ingram. In Year 3 of the Ingram-Williamson duo, New Orleans executed a deadline deal to bring in veteran CJ McCollum to form an uber-talented trio.
With luck on their side and plenty of talent in tow, the Pelicans have checked two of the formula's three boxes. Unfortunately for New Orleans, health issues, which have come in abundance, have stood in the way of a clean sweep.
Nearly two years have passed since McCollum was traded to New Orleans. In that span, he's shared the floor with both Ingram and Williamson in just 16 of a possible 132 regular-season games.
Yes, you read that correctly. Since February of 2022, there has been a near-90 percent chance that at least one of Ingram, McCollum or Williamson would be unable to suit up for the Pelicans.
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that when each member of the trio does play, the Pelicans have looked scary good, posting an 11-5 record. That includes a blowout over the Nets on opening night of the 2022-23 season and, more recently, a come-from-behind win over the Kings in the Quarterfinals of the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament.
Now, as New Orleans eyes the first-ever NBA Cup with hopes of re-establishing contender status in the Western Conference, a look at what this trio has accomplished at a small scale can give an idea of how it can achieve success on a large scale.
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The numbers show the potential of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson
Admittedly, a sample size equivalent to one-fifth of an NBA season makes it difficult to read too much into the numbers, but it's no secret that New Orleans is at its best when it has its full complement of stars.
Before getting into advanced figures, the averages from counting stats give an idea of the role that each player takes on when they share the floor. Ingram and McCollum's propensity to isolate and operate from the midrange results in their getting a near-equal diet of shot attempts while Williamson has been just as — if not more — prolific as his two teammates.
It's worth noting that Ingram, a career 36.1 percent 3-point shooter, has seen an uptick in efficiency from beyond the arc when next to these two, a product of the attention they demand from opposing defenses.
| Ingram | McCollum | Williamson | |
| Games | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| PPG | 21.7 | 17.3 | 21.7 |
| RPG | 6.0 | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| APG | 4.4 | 5.8 | 3.8 |
| FGM | 7.8 | 6.7 | 8.3 |
| FGA | 15.8 | 15.6 | 13.9 |
| FG% | 49.2 | 42.8 | 59.2 |
| 3PM | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 |
| 3PA | 3.9 | 7.0 | 0.4 |
| 3P% | 40.3 | 33.0 | 42.9 |
As good of scorers as each member of the trio is, the only time they each crossed the 20-point plateau in the same game was their first time playing together, when they combined to score 74 points in a 130-108 win over Brooklyn in October of 2022.
It's more than just scoring, of course, but because there is just one basketball, the trio affords New Orleans the luxury of having each member take turns dominating. That said, a better way to evaluate the small sample size is the advanced stats.
| Games | 16 |
| Minutes | 278 |
| Offensive Rating | 117.6 |
| Defensive Rating | 109.2 |
| Net Rating | 8.4 |
As tough as it is to make any overarching judgments from 16 games over 22 months, New Orleans' net rating with the three of them on the floor gives a glimpse of just how good they can be.
What can allow this team to achieve big things, however, extends beyond the trio. Fortunately for them, they've assembled a team complete with the perfect players to complement their stars.
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The Pelicans have assembled the perfect supporting cast
While the Pelicans have dealt with their fair share of injuries over the last several years, their depth has proven to be a saving grace.
This New Orleans team has serious talent and head coach Willie Green is often faced with the good problem of having too many players to choose from. At least on the wing.
While big man Jonas Valanciunas holds things down in the paint, the Pelicans have assembled a group of perimeter players that include Jose Alvarado, Dyson Daniels, Jordan Hawkins, Herbert Jones, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy III.
In Alvarado, Daniels, Jones and Marshall, New Orleans has four players who consistently make winning plays on various levels, especially on the defensive end. In a league where perimeter scorers reign supreme, the Pelicans have a number of players capable of limiting prolific scorers.
Of the above group of four players, none has been more impressive than Jones, a 6-7 forward who, in his third NBA season, is already one of the NBA's premier defenders, with "Not on Herb" becoming a common phrase echoed by Pelicans and NBA fans alike. Now, Jones is making major strides on the offensive end.
To space the floor, the team used its most recent first-round pick to take Hawkins, who is currently fourth among all rookies with 12.9 points per game on 37.3 percent shooting, while Murphy has shot 39.9 percent from deep over his three seasons in the league. And make no mistake, Murphy is an elite athlete who holds his own on the defensive end, too.
The strengths of New Orleans' star trio are complemented by its supporting cast, a crew of players that perfectly encapsulate just what a successful NBA team needs.
If Ingram, McCollum and Williamson can stay healthy, this In-Season Tournament run will only be the beginning of the large-scale success in New Orleans.
