Zion Williamson is one of the best young players in the league, well-known for his slashing to the basket and finishing at the rim. He is a highly efficient scorer and elite rebounder. Though he did not play during the 2021-22 season, he had a very productive 2020-21 season, averaging 27.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG.
Though his talent is undeniable, Zion Williamson has had a lot of injury issues in his young career. Some have doubts that he can ever reach his potential due to his durability. However, there are clearly some people who still believe that he can become a superstar.
NBA Executive Is Still High On Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson is a dominant force when he’s on the court, and Williamson has shown that he can handle a huge amount of offensive usage in the past. Now, he has to show that he can lead a team.
An NBA executive interviewed by HoopsHype revealed his belief that he can still be a true franchise player. He claimed that Williamson could be a “franchise guy” if he stays a top-5 offensive player and improves defensively.
“Two years ago, Zion was a Top 5 offensive player,” the NBA executive said. “His case is pretty simple. Do that again and be better on defense, and he’s for sure a franchise guy.”
On one hand, the executive has a point if Williamson can remain healthy, but that’s a big if considering he’s only played 85 total games the past three seasons.
The New Orleans Pelicans managed to make the playoffs without Zion Williamson’s presence under Brandon Ingram’s leadership. With Williamson’s return, they should be able to make another playoff appearance next season and perhaps even make the second round.
Obviously, Zion Williamson will have to be able to remain healthy for the New Orleans Pelicans to get far next season. He will determine their ceiling, and if he plays at an All-NBA level after his foot injury, the New Orleans Pelicans could become a dangerous dark horse contender in the Western Conference.
Hopefully, we see Zion Williamson ball out next season and prove all the critics wrong. He has endured a lot of hate from fans and analysts this past season, with a lot of people criticizing him for being out of shape. All the noise should subside if he and the New Orleans Pelicans start winning games, and Zion Williamson is likely motivated to show that he is still an elite talent in this game.
