New Orleans Pelicans Star Zion Williamson was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019. The 23-year-old forward was named to two NBA All-Star teams, despite dealing with injuries for most of his professional basketball career.
Williamson was mostly healthy during the 2020-21 season, when he played in 61 games. He averaged 27 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He earned All-Star honors for his performance that season. He’s also been widely available this season, appearing in 51 of the Pelicans’ games so far.
Despite averaging 22.1 points and 5.1 assists this season, Williamson was not an All-Star selection. The NBA recently implemented rules that require players to play a minimum number of games in order to qualify for major awards such as MVP. But it appears Zion has his sights set on being named to the All-Star team for the third time in his career.
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Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 2, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Williams has committed to participating in the NBA Slam Dunk competition, but only if he was selected as an All-Star.
“I have to do my part and make the All-Star Game. If I make the All-Star Game, I’ll make the dunk contest,” he said. “But if I don’t do it, I won’t do it.”
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The dunk contest’s mainstream appeal has declined significantly in recent years as NBA stars withdraw from competition. However, Williamson’s conditional commitment is the latest sign of growing interest from star players in the competition.
Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans faces the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of the West Semifinal of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on December 7, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers beat the Pelicans 133-89. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics Star Jaylen Brown competed in this year’s dunk contest, but G League player Mac McClung ultimately won his second consecutive contest.
Williamson remains one of the most explosive athletes in the league. He regularly throws highlight-worthy dunks during Pelicans games.
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Prior to Brown’s participation in last month’s competition, DeAndre Jordan The 2017 performance marked the last time an All-Star competed in the dunk contest.
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