The New Orleans Pelicans got more bad news about superstar forward Zion Williamson ahead of the team facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-in Tournament.
Williamson has been trying to battle back from injury for the majority of the 2022-23 NBA regular season but has dealt with setback after setback, and now there’s a mental component that he admitted is preventing him from returning to the floor.
It remains uncertain when or if Williamson will get back on the hardwood for the Pelicans during the playoffs if New Orleans advances to the postseason.
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith talked about the situation with Williamson and expressed his disappointment in the former No. 1 overall pick.
“The issue with Zion is ______.”@stephenasmith heard what the injured #Pelicans star said right and was very blunt in his reaction with us today:#NBA #NBAPlayoffs #NBATwitter #FirstTake pic.twitter.com/5L6MfdvNYt
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 12, 2023
Smith questioned Williamson’s ability to take care of himself now that the promising young star has missed 169 games, which is a major concern for the Pelicans franchise.
As Smith points out, New Orleans is a very talented basketball team, and the addition of a healthy Williamson could propel the squad to title-contending status in the Western Conference.
Few teams in the NBA have as talented a duo as Williamson and Brandon Ingram, but that could all go to waste if the 22-year-old can’t find a way to get back on the floor and be available for his team consistently.
Only time will tell if Williamson can overcome the mental hurdles and his persistent health issues to live up to the hype and help the Pelicans reach the team’s true potential.
NEXT: Zion Williamson Speaks Out On Injury Absence