The New Orleans Pelicans have said it before and will say it again: Zion Williamson is the future of the team.
There has been endless speculation about Williamson and his commitment to the team over the years, especially over the last season as he sat out for more than a year due to an injury.
During that time, rumors suggested that he wanted out of New Orleans ASAP.
Other rumors said he was unhappy and unhealthy and possibly over 300 pounds.
But the Pels never lost the faith.
Zion Williamson:
85 games played
$193 Million. pic.twitter.com/o9sCXBl4r4
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 2, 2022
The team just doubled down on Williamson recently, giving him a five-year, $193 million contract extension.
They did this despite the fact that he’s only played in 85 total games because of his various injuries.
Was this the right choice by the Pelicans or just wishful thinking?
Winning With Williamson
The Pelicans held their own without Williamson.
Thanks to the hard work of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Herb Jones, and others, the Pels were able to rebound from a rough start to the season and actually got into playoff contention.
In the end, the Phoenix Suns were too much for New Orleans and took them out in the first round.
But their great turnaround was beyond impressive and had all fans wondering how much better the team will be when Williamson is back on the floor.
During his 85 games, Williamson has put up 25.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
He’s an absolute beast on the floor, moving like a freight train and consistently pushing through obstacles in his way.
Williamson could truly elevate the already-promising Pelicans team and give them a monstrous boost.
$193 million over five years might end up being a steal.
NEXT: Zion Williamson Shown Getting Trolled By A Young Fan