THE New Orleans Pelicans made a splash by drafting Zion Williamson with the primary decide within the 2019 NBA Draft.
He has change into the face of the franchise and is coming into the second yr of a five-year, $197.23 million contract signed earlier than final season.
Williamson is an intimidating presence on the sector, when wholesome, ending third in Rookie of the 12 months voting in 2019-20, ninth in Most Improved Participant Award voting in 2020-21, and getting an All-Star nod twice up to now in his youth. profession.
However therein lies the issue.
Have to make use of the qualifier “when he’s in good well being”.
The scenario is way worse when you think about that Williamson ranks because the third highest paid participant per sport within the NBA, at $425,415 per sport.
That complete ranks behind Joel Embiid ($437,598) and supreme “wholesome” participant Ben Simmons ($446,791).
Accidents have troubled Williamson all through his profession, with 2023-24 being his healthiest season, seeing the massive man play a career-high 70 video games.
Williamson was restricted to simply 24 video games in his rookie marketing campaign and 61 in yr two earlier than lacking his third yr totally, then simply 29 in 2022-23.
Once more, when he is on the sector and wholesome, he is an intimidating presence.
Listed at 6’6″, 284 kilos, Williamson can again down high rim protectors together with his immense measurement and energy and does so repeatedly.
The important thing for the Pelicans is holding Williamson wholesome and on the courtroom, which is one thing they’re engaged on for the upcoming season.
Williamson modified his low season routine this yr, attempting to get his weight all the way down to 260 kilos and performing workout routines 5 days every week to enhance his endurance and sturdiness.
Solely time will inform if it’ll work, however having the younger celebrity on the sector for 70 video games final yr proved impactful for New Orleans.
Williamson completed the yr with 22.9 factors per sport and 31.5 minutes per sport, the second-lowest minutes per sport of his profession to this point.
This appears to be the candy spot for Williamson, and we may see the Pelicans attempt to preserve him within the 30-32 minutes per sport vary once more this yr to attempt to preserve him on the courtroom for 70 video games or much more.
New Orleans reached the primary spherical of the playoffs in 2023-24, and Williamson staying wholesome has been a giant a part of that success.
If he can keep on the courtroom for 70 or extra video games this season, one other playoff look is not out of the query for the Pelicans.
