Pelicans star Zion Williamson has caught a lot of heat over the past few weeks. On the court, his play has been fine enough but his struggle to stay in shape is still ongoing. As the criticism reached new heights this week, Williamson has responded with some big moments and recently told one insider that the best is yet to come.
“They don’t bother me,” said Zion to Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on the weight jokes from the media. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. The best is yet to come.”
Only Zion knows what’s going on in his head, but it’s hard to imagine that the noise isn’t getting to him at least a little bit. Due to lazy play on the court and inconsistent availability throughout his career, Williamson has failed to live up to expectations and it’s no secret that his lack of discipline is part of the reason why. How Zion responds going forward remains to be seen, but his current downside has caught the attention of fans and analysts across the world.
Consistent Weight Problems For Zion
Conditioning is hardly a new issue for the Pelicans star. Dating back to his tenure at Duke, Williamson has battled his own body in futile attempts to stay in shape and cut down on the extra body fat. That season he even went viral for tearing through a pair of Nike’s mid-game, hinting to the world that he was already playing above his weight.
By the time he made the transition to the NBA, Zion was supposed to change his lifestyle to accommodate a lengthy 82-game season, but he’s failed to live up to standards so far and it’s caused quite a strike in the NBA world. This season, with his numbers down across the board, and the Pelicans looking painfully mediocre, Zion is at a turning point in his career and it’s time for him to prove what kind of star he can be. Judging by his recent statement, Williamson is betting on himself to answer the call and prove everyone wrong but only time will tell what’s in the cards for his career.
Watch Out For New Orleans
We’ve seen glimpses of what the Pelicans can be at their best, and it can look scary at times. Between Zion, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and elite perimeter defender Herb Jones, the Pels are rich with talent and deep at almost every position. Last season, during a particularly hot stretch from Zion and company, the Pelicans sat as high as first in the West and looked to be a real threat to the top-flight contenders. It wasn’t until Williamson got hurt later in the season that the Pelicans lost their way but now that he has been back in the lineup, they are starting to hit their stride as a team again.
At 14-11, New Orleans still has a long way to go before they’re in a comfortable place in the standings but the Pelicans feel confident in their guys and only a fool would count them out as a threat in the West. Ultimately, the key to a breakout season rests in the hands of Williamson and whether or not he can rise to the occasion as the face and leader of Pelicans basketball.
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