Zion Williamson was on the sidelines for the second straight 12 months watching his New Orleans Pelicans teammates battle within the play-in match. “Zanos” sat out final season after fracturing his proper foot in coaching camp.
This 12 months, Williamson suffered a hamstring damage and performed in simply 22 video games. He shut down any hopes of a return when he advised reporters he’s not taking part in as he’s not feeling like “Zion.”
Stephen A. Smith had this to say about Williamson’s response to the media earlier than the Pelicans took on the OKC Thunder on Wednesday:
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“This man [Williamson] is a improbable expertise. … If he had been within the lineup, we’d be talking considerably extra about New Orleans and how much noise they will make within the Western Convention.
“He’s missed 169 video games in his profession and hasn’t performed in 40% of his video games. You may’t make a press release like, ‘Once I really feel like a Zion.’ … He’s gotta discover a strategy to get again on the courtroom. Interval. As a result of it’s beginning to look very dangerous and it’s elevating suspicions in every single place.”
The Pelicans had been constructive that Zion Williamson would return after injuring his hamstring on Jan. 2 towards the Philadelphia 76ers. Three weeks later, the workforce advised reporters that he was steadily progressing however didn’t give a timeline for his return.
On Apr. 7, heading into the sport towards the New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans GM David Griffin knowledgeable the media of Williamson’s standing:
“Based mostly on at present, our greatest potential end result could be if all the pieces lined up completely, possibly you’re able to follow previous to a primary spherical. Or possibly throughout a primary spherical.
“Nevertheless it’s going to take multiple, proper? It’s actually exhausting. We could by no means get to that time both. If it’s not a scenario the place these issues align and he feels the best way he must really feel, we’re not going to let him go to the subsequent section.”
Any flickering hopes of seeing Zion Williamson within the play-in match had been put out by this:
“Bodily, I’m effective. Now it’s only a matter of after I really feel like Zion.
“I can just about do all the pieces, but it surely’s only a matter of the extent that I used to be taking part in at earlier than my hamstring. I don’t wish to go on the market and be in my very own head and have an effect on the workforce after I can simply be on the sideline supporting them extra, as a result of I do know myself. If I used to be to go on the market, I might be in my head. I might hesitate on sure strikes and it might have an effect on the sport.”
Zion Williamson’s five-year contract will kick in subsequent season
On July 6, 2022, Zion Williamson signed a five-year $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension. It’s going to begin as soon as the 2023-24 season begins. The deal might attain as excessive as $231 million if he earns an All-NBA choice, which can not occur this season after taking part in simply 29 video games.
When Williamson has been out there, he’s simply been one of many NBA’s most unstoppable gamers. He simply hasn’t been wholesome lengthy sufficient to contribute when it issues for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The highly-discussed weight clause in Zion Williamson’s extension won’t have an effect on him except he’s unimaginably waived by the Pelicans. If the basketball star and the workforce that drafted him ultimately separate, then meaning a number of issues have gone incorrect already.
New Orleans has been extremely aggressive and gritty even with out the two-time All-Star. They may, nonetheless, stay as fringe contenders for the title if Zion Williamson continues to be saddled with accidents.