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Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts to an officials call during a game on January 27, 2024
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is facing backlash for saying he would only participate in the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest if he voted for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
Williamson made the comments following his team’s win over Toronto on March 5. During the match, Williamson showed off his unreal jumps when he effortlessly completed a half-court alley-oop pass from Jose Alvarado. The highlight dunk led reporters to ask if he would ever consider showing off his athleticism during NBA All-Star weekend.
“I have to do my part and participate in the All-Star Game” Williamson responded. “If I make the All-Star Game, I’ll take part in the dunk contest. But if I don’t do it, I don’t do it.
While some perceived Williamson’s comments as a challenge for the 23-year-old to improve and return to the All-Star Game. after missing this year’s festivitiesNBA legends such as Shaquille O’Neal and Jamal Crawford were unimpressed with his prospects.
Shaq to Zion: “Earn the respect of your peers”
On the March 5 episode of “Inside the NBA” on TNTCrawford felt Williamson’s comments seemed like he was playing “politics” to force his way into the All-Star Game.
“We call it politicking in the neighborhood,” Crawford said of Williamson’s comments. “It’s like he’s saying, ‘Put me in the All-Star Game and I’ll be your show.’ Zion is obviously trying to get back to the level we all thought we were at. People followed him because we see the potential. He just needs to continue to play hard and stay consistent and he’ll make the All-Star Game.
O’Neal was even more critical of Williamson, asking the former No. 1 pick to stop dealing in what-ifs and let his game do the talking.
“I don’t like it when you say, ‘If I make the All-Star team,'” O’Neal said of Williamson. “You have to see it, Zion… ‘When I make the All-Star team, yes.’ All this talk of “if” just tells me that you don’t have full confidence in yourself, which is okay. He’s still a young player. But at some point you have to say, “This is my league.”
“You don’t want anyone to put you in the All-Star Game. You want to earn that and gain the respect of your peers. But it starts with visualization.
Elsewhere, media personality Colin Cowherd mocked rumors that Williamson suffers from an eating disorderwhich many believe prevented the Duke prospect from living up to the NBA hype.
“So he’s going to dip something other than Donuts?” … I would like to see him compete in the dunk contest. Cowherd said March 6. “And he’s not a good enough player to take the plunge.” Lebron [James] can skip it. He must participate in the dunk contest; his mark was hurt.
Was Zion Williamson snubbed this year?
Williamson did not make the 2024 NBA All-Star team, despite being the best player on a winning Pelicans team.
Although Williamson is no longer mentioned in the same vein as Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and other rising NBA superstars, he is quietly having a good season. Despite averaging career points (22.0) and rebounds (5.5), he became a more complete player with a career-high 5.2 assists. In February, when the Pelicans went 8-4Williamson averaged 6.5 assists and even earned the nickname “Point Zion” for his ability to set up his teammates.
More importantly, Williamson remained injury-free for the entire season. Having played in 51 of the Pelcians’ 62 games As of March 7, Williamson is his healthiest since the 2020-21 season, where he played in 61 games.
Pelicans (37-25) are currently the fifth seed in a crowded Western Conference where teams like the Lakers, Warriors and Suns are in danger of missing the playoffs. As such, Williamson deserves more credit for everything except securing his team a playoff spot.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors. Based in Portugal, Sai is a veteran sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including work for Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. Learn more about Sai Mohan
