For years, everything revolving around Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans organization has seemed tumultuous or mysterious.
The team has never given actual updates about his health status or his rehab, and there have been multiple reports of him being detached or not even being involved in team activities when he’s not healthy.
Recently, Brian Windhorst of ESPN fueled the fire by confirming the latter, stating that he has no relationship with the Pelicans organization or his teammates whatsoever.
Needless to say, the fans had plenty to say about this report.
He gone
— BetOpenly.com (@BetOpenly) June 16, 2023
He had a closer relationship with Mariah than with Ingram
— Andy (@AndyJPuente) June 16, 2023
Zion has the only played 114/318 regular season games…
This Zion/Ja ESPN 30 for 30 about to HIT
— The Owl (@TheOwl_LOB) June 16, 2023
Months ago, JJ Redick put Zion on blast for not even welcoming CJ McCollum to the team when he got traded there, citing that there’s a minimum decorum a player should have, let alone a franchise player.
There have been reports of Zion falling asleep during video sessions, and the fact that the team actually put a weight clause in his contract all but proves that they don’t trust him or his work ethic.
Zion has reportedly fled town multiple times to rehab away from the team instead of within their facility, and some believe his teammates didn’t care for the fact that he was throwing windmill dunks in warmups and then didn’t want to suit up in a must-win game with the season on the line.
Of course, this could all be rumors, speculation, or isolated incidents, but putting all the rumblings and rumors together makes it feel like he’s never been truly committed to the organization.
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