Already 4 years since the Draft of Zion Williamson in the NBA, and many (too many) disappointments already deplored. The latest? Despite the agreement of the medical staff of his team, the “Z” did not wish to play the crucial play-in match lost by the Pels once morest the Thunder. And that’s not all: a very special clause particularly tickles the player’s father-in-law. Atmosphere…
Frustrating seasons stack up for season Zion Williamson, and the point of no return might well be reached soon. After having played only 114 games out of 340 possible since his arrival in the NBA, the former Dukie was expected as the messiah during the play-in once morest Oklahoma City, and the possible playoff run that might have followed. But now, cold shower: the winger did not want to play.
This refusal, which looks like a straw that breaks the camel’s back, has generated many negative returns for the native of North Carolina. Notably cut by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Zion also took, and this is more worrying, tackles from CJ McCollum and his GM David Griffin. In short, something is clearly wrong at NOLA.
A “Kawhi” situation that smolders, an annoying clause
The case is all the more worrying as it is the Williamson clan, led by his father-in-law Lee Anderson, who chose not to play the play-in match. Like Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio, Zion relies on a personal medical team, whose findings sometimes contradict those of the team. All of this rarely ends well, and information from Skip Bayless goes in this direction:
Zion Williamson’s independent medical team says he’s only 99%, and these folks don’t want to allow him back until he’s 100%. Pelicans officials are increasingly out of step with Zion’s stepfather, who leads the way on the player side. The stepfather grows increasingly unhappy with the team, as they continue to enforce a clause in the contract that they can weigh him every month.
All these elements taken end to end do not bode well for the marriage between Zion Williamson and New Orleans. Between a player and his less and less collaborative camp, and a franchise that is slowly starting to lose patience, next season already seems like the last chance. If that fails, everyone will probably move on.
It would seem in any case that despite the faults of each other, it is above all up to Williamson to take charge. Still unable to maintain a lifestyle compatible with the highest level, Zion sent a very bad message to his teammates by not even trying to play in the last game of the season. And that, like the rest, might leave traces…
If this is still an open crisis between the Pelicans and Zion Williamson and his camp, we are starting to get dangerously close. Let’s hope that the summer calms the spirits and that the next campaign is conclusive, otherwise the time will probably have come for the “Z” to pack its bags…