Pelicans star Zion Williamson wants to warn the league for this upcoming NBA season. The All-Star forward who has been hampered by injuries since being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft. NBA Draftenters the next season with a new mindset.
“I’m for straight revenge,” Williamson said via The Athletic. “Not against any particular person. Just for myself.”
Williamson ended last season with another injury, this time a hamstring strain that kept him out of the Pelicans’ first-round playoff series against the Thunder (New Orleans was swept). It was the latest crushing moment in a career that has been stalled by countless injuries. When Williamson is healthy, he is one of the best and most unstoppable players in the league. But over the years his availability was never constant, and when he is healthy, he is criticized for not being in shape. There have been reports over the years of Williamson not doing enough during his rehabilitation process to ensure he can return fully healthy, a point he has butted heads with the organization over.
But after years of injuries, criticism and even trade rumors, it appears Williamson is ready to fully commit to next season.
“I want to be one of them,” Williamson said. “I talked about it and I made mistakes (along the way). “That thing can’t happen. It’s time to take every game personal.”
The turning point for Williamson was the In-Season Tournament semifinal performance against the Lakers in December, in which Williamson collected just 13 points in a 44-point loss. Williamson was heavily criticized for appearing out of shape and disinterested, but it served as a rock bottom moment for the Pelicans star.
“(The In-Season Tournament loss) was definitely one of the key turning points in the season, and honestly, for me as a man in my career,” Williamson said. “I look at (LeBron James) here on the court, doing what he does. I tell myself that I want to be a player that has a high level of greatness — one of the greats. In that big moment, I didn’t show up. It hit me as the game went on, I just looked up and said, ‘I didn’t show up.’ I have no excuse.”
The Pelicans got back on track after that embarrassing loss, eventually claiming the last playoff spot in the West. But it came at the cost of another injury to Williamson. But the version of Williamson we got at the end of last season was a lot different than the one in December, who didn’t look like he was at his best.
From the sounds of it, we should expect to see more of Williamson, who almost single-handedly led the Pelicans to a comeback win against the Lakers in a Play-In Tournament game in April with 40 points. If Williamson can sustain that level of play and make sure he stays committed to being in shape and taking care of his body, then it wouldn’t be crazy to see him in the MVP conversation at some point this season.
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