Zion Williamson, the 5-star Duke freshman and number one overall recruit in this year’s NBA Draft is bound to be a sensation on the court. He has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant because of his elite abilities even at such an early stage in his career. We have compiled some frequently asked questions about Zion for your convenience.
Zion Williamson’s injury update is a question that many people have been asking. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson has been injured, and the team is not releasing any updates on his condition.
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Windhorst, Brian
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Senior Writer for ESPN- Since 2010, I’ve been an NBA columnist for ESPN.com.
- For seven years, I covered the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Author of two works of fiction
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Lopez, Andrew
The New Orleans Pelicans have announced more delays in Zion Williamson’s comeback from a fractured foot than wins this season, which is a depressing statement about the team’s season.
Another one was provided on Tuesday, and it was not a declaration that Williamson is ready to play. But it was the most encouraging news yet, as a comeback for the exciting but injury-prone young prodigy might be in the cards.
The Pelicans’ lineup and offensive output have a major void that Williamson’s arrival should help fill. With him out and other ailments, including star Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have plummeted to a 2-14 record, losing a league-high four games while leading by 15 points or more this season. They’re attempting to become the first club since the Phoenix Suns of 1996-97 to start the season 0-12 and still compete in the playoffs (the Suns started 0-13).
Here’s a quick FAQ to keep you up to date on the situation and the path that brought the team here:
When can we expect Zion to make his season debut?
That remains to be seen, but Tuesday’s statement provides the clearest picture yet. Williamson has been cleared for contact by the Pelicans, who will begin with one-on-one exercises before moving on to full team practices. On Wednesday, he’ll have another round of imaging, which will decide if he’ll be approved for those exercises. The Pelicans may decide on a return to play after he’s cleared for 5-on-5 practice. However, how long it takes until he’s cleared will be determined on New Orleans’ comfort level with his development.
Wasn’t he supposed to play on opening night, according to the team?
It did, and Williamson did as well. On the opening day of training camp on Sept. 27, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin revealed that Williamson had broken his right foot and would need surgery this summer at an unannounced date. After that, he said:
“His schedule should allow him to return to the court before the start of the season. That’s what we’re hoping for. That is our point of view. We’re quite bullish about the prospects.”
Following that, Williamson stated: “I plan on returning for the first game. I should claim that was the first formal game.”
They would soon come to regret their words, and Griffin would stumble a little while walking it back. Since then, Williamson hasn’t talked to the press.
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Why have the Pelicans continued to postpone their return?
Williamson had not been allowed to partake in contact exercises by the medics with whom he had been training until Tuesday. However, the team has not handled the situation properly in terms of public relations. It kept the injuries and operation a secret out of respect for Williamson and his desire for privacy, according to insiders. Then, instead of presenting a comprehensive schedule, it gave incremental updates that made it seem as though he was experiencing obstacles, whether or not that was true. That tactic may have aided the front office’s connection with the franchise player, but it harmed the team’s fan base’s trust. It’s becoming difficult to take successive updates at face value.
When did the Pelicans become aware of the injury?
According to reports, the Pelicans had a strength and conditioning coach with Williamson in Los Angeles for summer training, so they were aware of his injury. Griffin’s vagueness regarding the injury’s date — he’s mentioned “early in the summer” and “before summer league” — might be to respect Williamson’s wish for privacy. However, this sparked discussion about whether the team was aware of the situation, which is a delicate subject.
When it comes to injury notifications, elite players receive special attention. Chris Paul, for example, underwent wrist surgery last summer and the club made no announcement about it.
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Naturally, competing clubs are keeping an eye on the issue. It’s crucial to understand that the restrictions are in place to financially incentivize players who are nearing the conclusion of their rookie contracts to remain and extend. Under the present structure, almost all young stars have re-signed with their clubs.
This is unusual, but if a player threatens to sign a one-year deal after his fourth year, his club may feel compelled to move him. For example, Kristaps Porzingis was moved away from the New York Knicks during his third season as a result of this strategy. The Knicks’ decision was influenced by Porzingis’ injury issues.
With this in mind, Williamson’s one-year qualifying offer in 2023-24 is expected to be $17.6 million, the most in NBA history and the sort of figure that makes choosing that one-year contract more plausible. To qualify for that, Williamson would have to start 41 games or play 2,000 minutes next season, otherwise his one-year qualifier would be reduced to $7.7 million.
The most important thing for Williamson is his health, but his connection with the squad moving into next summer will be fascinating to monitor.
What are the Pelicans trying to keep Williamson healthy and interested in staying in New Orleans?
The Pelicans have invested a lot of money, time, and effort into Williamson’s health. In an effort to help him, they’ve replaced the personnel and even modified some of their cooking techniques. They’ve spoken to him about how to safeguard his body from more strikes. Griffin has defended Williamson in private, submitting video footage to the league to show how badly he was being beaten. When it didn’t work, Griffin publicly chastised NBA officials for failing to safeguard Williamson, and he was fined $50,000.
It hasn’t shown great results yet, but everyone is determined to keep trying. His skill is incredible. Last season, he demonstrated it by averaging 27 points on 61 percent shooting in 61 games, while also controlling the offense and displaying some of the most amazing inside scoring since Shaquille O’Neal. He’s well worth the effort and wait, and the Pelicans and Williamson still have time to pull this out.
The “zion williamson 2021” is a question that has been asked many times. Zion Williamson was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
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