The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t hesitate to take Zion Williamson with the first-overall pick back in 2019, and who could blame them?
Of course, the Duke product came with some red flags above his head, as there were major durability concerns.
However, he was such a unique prospect, and a physical force of nature, that no GM in his right mind would’ve kept his job if he had passed on him.
Fast forward to today, and it’s evident that Zion will never play a full NBA season.
He’s had multiple soft-tissue injuries, and every time he hurts a bone, it seems like he has to go through multiple setbacks before being close to 100% again.
That’s why sports analyst Shannon Sharpe believes it’s time the Pelicans finally realize that their so-called franchise player will never be fully healthy, and they’ll just need to plan accordingly:
“They should have zero confidence that Zion Williamson will be healthy at any point time in his career,” Sharpe said on Undisputed. “At some point in the season, he’s going to miss time, and I’m not talking about load management time; I’m talking about significant time. Because a man his size shouldn’t be able to move and jump like he does. It just doesn’t make sense. An 18-wheeler shouldn’t be able to handle like a Formula 1 car. If it does, things are going to happen.”
On a scale of 1-10, how much can the Pelicans trust Zion Williamson's health?
"It's a lower number than 0. They should have zero confidence that Zion will be healthy for the rest of his career." — @ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/5SyrecsWy8
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 14, 2023
Zion’s impact on the court is undeniable.
Besides his god-given talents, freakish athleticism, and skill, his sole presence makes opposing defenses adjust, opening plenty of room for his talented teammates.
But at some point, the Pelicans will have to come to peace with the fact that Williamson’s career may not last long, as he just can’t seem to stay on the floor.
We’ve seen this multiple times with superstars like Brandon Roy and Grant Hill, as well as with other first-overall picks like Greg Oden.
It’s a shame, as Zion could’ve been the face of the league for years, but he’s missed half of the games of his career already, and the only way to fix that is by taking away the very same thing that makes him so unstoppable: His physique.
NEXT: The Pelicans Get A Tough Zion Williamson Update
