Zion Williamson is a prospect that’s so talented and hyped, it does not come as any surprise to hear he has the potential to become an NBA superstar.
Zion Williamson is a young player who has had a lot of injuries in his short career. Zion needs to shut it down before the Pelicans’ nightmare season becomes even worse.
This season, Zion Williamson has yet to play for the New Orleans Pelicans. He doesn’t look to be close to doing so, though, as the 2018 No. 1 pick’s comeback from a foot ailment has hit a snag. It’s now up to the Pels to put him out of his misery.
The Pelicans are one of the poorest teams in the NBA and have no chance of making the playoffs. Rushing Williamson back into play unnecessarily risks re-injury, resulting in a missed season and maybe ruining the franchise’s future.
Concerns concerning Zion Williamson’s health and physique have been raised.
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The New Orleans Pelicans were caught off guard at training camp when they revealed Zion Williamson had had offseason foot surgery.
According to initial reports, the Pelicans delayed disclosing the information out of respect for Zion’s privacy. Both the club and Williamson expected him to be ready to play soon after the season began, if not on opening night.
Instead, the former Duke star remains sidelined and continues to be criticized for his body, with Charles Barkley among many who have expressed worry over Zion’s weight gain throughout his recuperation.
Despite this, Williamson made some improvement and took part in exercises. He increased his activity in preparation for a possible comeback and received permission to play full 5-on-5, only to suffer the aforementioned setback.
Despite the lack of a schedule for Zion’s comeback, New Orleans believes he will play at some point during the 2021-22 season.
Williamson’s return to play is still a possibility for the Pelicans.
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The Pelicans have the poorest record in the Western Conference, with an 8-21 record. They’re four games out of the last play-in place and seven games out of the eighth seed.
Is it possible for a healthy Zion to help New Orleans make up so much ground? The Pels seem to believe this is the case.
On “NBA Today,” ESPN’s Andrew Lopez said that New Orleans would likely conduct further scans of Williamson’s foot in “3-to-4 weeks.” Despite the fact that this delays the Pelicans’ return, Lopez said that shutting down Zion is not a “probable” possibility.
While Williamson attempts to get back on track, the Pelicans may be able to tread water and remain in the hunt. If New Orleans hopes to advance to the play-in round, he will most likely be reintegrated.
However, it’s improbable that New Orleans will be able to win basketball games. The Pels’ problems are far-reaching. Furthermore, hurrying Williamson back might have long-term ramifications.
It’s time to turn it off.
On November 17, 2021, Zion Williamson departs the bench following a game against the Miami Heat | Mark Brown/Getty Images
The Pelicans must accept the fact that Zion Williamson will not be able to salvage their season.
New Orleans has a slew of issues, beginning with a chronically underperforming backcourt. After a great sophomore season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has slowed down, while Devonte’ Graham has been averaging less than 12 points and shooting less than 37% since the beginning of November. To make things worse, the Pels lost rookie player Kira Lewis Jr., who was expected to be the team’s future point guard, to a knee injury for the season.
Given their shooting inefficiency, both NAW and Graham seem to be volume scorers rather than lead guards capable of coordinating the offense, which isn’t the greatest indication. Meanwhile, offensive players Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky, who were acquired from the Chicago Bulls in the Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade, are a liability.
In addition, the Pelicans have bleed points. They have a defensive rating of 26th, with opponents shooting over 47 percent from the field.
Zion is a player who spans generations. Even though he showed promise as a point forward near the end of the season, he can’t solve an awful backcourt. What happens if Williamson sustains another injury?
The organization’s future depends on the 21-year-old. In a season when the Saints don’t have enough to win, they can’t put his future health in jeopardy. Perhaps the Pels should take Kendrick Perkins’ advise and make Zion’s personal health a priority.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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Zion Williamson is one of the best players in the NBA, but he needs to shut it down before the Pelicans’ nightmare season becomes even worse. Reference: zion williamson news.
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