Zion Williamson was on the sidelines for the second straight year watching his New Orleans Pelicans teammates battle in the play-in tournament. “Zanos” sat out last season after fracturing his right foot in training camp.
This year, Williamson suffered a hamstring injury and played in just 22 games. He shut down any hopes of a return when he told reporters he’s not playing as he’s not feeling like “Zion.”
Stephen A. Smith had this to say about Williamson’s response to the media before the Pelicans took on the OKC Thunder on Wednesday:
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“This guy [Williamson] is a fantastic talent. … If he were in the lineup, we’d be speaking significantly more about New Orleans and what kind of noise they can make in the Western Conference.
“He’s missed 169 games in his career and hasn’t played in 40% of his games. You can’t make a statement like, ‘When I feel like a Zion.’ … He’s gotta find a way to get back on the court. Period. Because it’s starting to look very bad and it’s raising suspicions everywhere.”
The Pelicans were positive that Zion Williamson would return after injuring his hamstring on Jan. 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Three weeks later, the team told reporters that he was steadily progressing but didn’t give a timeline for his return.
On Apr. 7, heading into the game against the New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans GM David Griffin informed the media of Williamson’s status:
“Based on today, our best possible outcome would be if everything lined up perfectly, maybe you’re in a position to practice prior to a first round. Or maybe during a first round.
“But it’s going to take more than one, right? It’s really hard. We may never get to that point either. If it’s not a situation where those things align and he feels the way he needs to feel, we’re not going to let him go to the next phase.”
Any flickering hopes of seeing Zion Williamson in the play-in tournament were put out by this:
“Physically, I’m fine. Now it’s just a matter of when I feel like Zion.
“I can pretty much do everything, but it’s just a matter of the level that I was playing at before my hamstring. I don’t want to go out there and be in my own head and affect the team when I can just be on the sideline supporting them more, because I know myself. If I was to go out there, I would be in my head. I would hesitate on certain moves and it could affect the game.”
Zion Williamson’s five-year contract will kick in next season
On July 6, 2022, Zion Williamson signed a five-year $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension. It will start once the 2023-24 season starts. The deal could reach as high as $231 million if he earns an All-NBA selection, which may not happen this season after playing just 29 games.
When Williamson has been available, he’s easily been one of the NBA’s most unstoppable players. He just hasn’t been healthy long enough to contribute when it matters for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The highly-discussed weight clause in Zion Williamson’s extension will not affect him unless he is unimaginably waived by the Pelicans. If the basketball star and the team that drafted him eventually separate, then that means several things have gone wrong already.
New Orleans has been incredibly competitive and gritty even without the two-time All-Star. They will, however, remain as fringe contenders for the title if Zion Williamson continues to be saddled with injuries.
