The Zion Williamson story is dangerously close to a complete disaster.
Do you remember the excitement going into the 2019 NBA Draft?
I remember it clear as day. The buzz surrounding this draft class was one that had rarely been seen. It dominated NBA discourse for a time. It felt like the entire basketball landscape was collectively holding its breath as it counted down the days until draft night. At the epicenter of the seismic night was one name.
Zion Williamson
The North Carolina native and Duke prospect was the clear-cut headliner of this draft. Even if you had never watched college basketball a day in your life, you knew this young man’s name. If you were a basketball fan on the internet during the summer of 2019, you were no doubt bombarded by an endless barrage of highlight reel plays from Zion.
The dust kicked up during the Duke-Michigan State matchup in that year’s March Madness tournament had barely settled before analysts began comparing Zion Williamson to LeBron James. This itself was not a new phenomenon. Many prospects have been compared to King James before entering the league, including Ben Simmons.
Needless to say, being compared to arguably the greatest ever can be as much a curse as a blessing. Nevertheless, the NBA awaited the arrival of its newest potential titan with bated breath.
Zion Williamson’s delayed, but promising start
To no one’s surprise, come draft night Zion Williamson was selected with the first overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans. Ja Morant and RJ Barrett rounded out the podium as the second and third overall picks respectively, but to be frank, this was the “Zion draft” in much the same way that the 2003 NBA draft was the “LeBron draft.”
But before the titan could even step foot on the hardwood for his first game, Zion would proceed to tear his meniscus during the 2019 NBA preseason. Looking back on it, this first injury would serve as a bitter taste of things to come for both Zion and the Pelicans.
On January 22, 2020, Zion Williamson would play his first official NBA game. Hopes were sky-high for the young forward, with some wondering if Zion would live up to the absurd expectations that had been set for him. Zion responded by scoring 17 points in just over three minutes in the final quarter of the game against the San Antonio Spurs, ending the night with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
While it was not as ludicrous as Tracy McGrady scoring 13 points in just over 30 seconds (also against the Spurs), the game made one point clear as day.
Zion Williamson was just as good as advertised
Not long after, we would be treated to a blockbuster matchup as the New Orleans Pelicans would make the journey to the city of angels to face the Los Angeles Lakers. It didn’t matter if you weren’t a fan of either team. This was a matchup you could not, and would not miss. The story wrote itself. ‘The King versus the Heir Apparent.’ The current face of the league versus its future. LeBron James versus Zion Williamson.
Everyone watching in the arena and around the world expected a show worthy of being played on the silver screen in Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. And that is exactly what they got. You’ve probably heard this a thousand times by now, but LeBron once again turned back the clock to give everyone the quintessential ‘King James experience,’ including Zion Williamson himself. While LeBron’s 40-point performance would lead to the Lakers winning Zion was no slouch, dropping 29 points of his own.
Fellow Pelicans player Brandon Ingram would also have an excellent game, scoring 34 points himself. As such, even in a loss, New Orleans fans were excited for the future. They had promising young players, solid depth, and now they had a cornerstone they could build the franchise around. If only they knew what was coming next.
The injuries reemerge for Zion Williamson
After the first two years of his NBA career, Zion would sadly be sidelined with an injury to his right foot that would require surgery. At first, this wouldn’t seem too derailing. While injuries are never welcome, the silver lining was that it had happened in the summer before the start of the regular season and Zion was predicted to return before it began.
Fast forward a few months, and Zion’s predicted return to the court was pushed back to December. Come December however, and instead of the Christmas present Pelicans fans were hoping for, they got a lump of coal when it was announced that Zion Williamson was still on the mend and would need more time. The New Orleans fans would wait and pray for their golden boy to return to the court. Sadly, Zion would ultimately not suit up a single time in his third season.
While this was indeed a tragedy, at the time it only seemed like a minor setback. Sure it was disappointing, but Zion had more than proved his worth in his first two seasons. Having seen what he was capable of, Pelicans fans were willing to exercise patience. The organization would also exercise its checkbook, signing Williamson to a five-year rookie extension worth close to $200 million. Needless to say, the front office still was fully invested in the Duke University alum.
On October of 2022, the prodigal son would return. In his first regular-season game since his second year, Zion Williamson would lead the Pelicans in a blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets. The victory re-energized the faith of New Orleans in both Zion himself and the Pelicans as a whole. Being able to beat the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving-led Brooklyn Nets was no small feat, as the team from arguably the most famous borough in the world was still a championship contender.
In some fans’ eyes, this was a potential NBA Finals matchup. As the weather got colder, the Pelicans would remain red-hot as they beat the Phoenix Suns, another contender for the coveted Larry ‘O Brien trophy.
With Zion at the helm, the Pelicans were one of the top-seeded teams in the entire Western Conference, a shoo-in for the NBA playoffs, and a team that would surely only get better with age.
Sadly, the good times would not continue to roll in “The Big Easy.”
Injuries continue to stack up
Two days into this calendar year, Zion would suffer an injury a hamstring injury during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Initially, the setback seemed to be a minor one, with Williamson predicted to return by the end of the month.
But we had seen this movie before. January would soon come to an end, and Zion was not expected to return to the hardwood until after March. This vague estimate put Williamson at risk of not being ready for the play-in tournament, which the Pelicans were now predicted to be participants in after tumbling down the rankings after their star’s injury. As was the case in the 2021-22 season, Zion Williamson would miss the remainder of the regular season.
The situation would then go from bad to worse, as Zion would be unable to return for the play-in tournament, where the Pelicans would be defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder. What started out as a season full of hope spiraled downward into a pit of despair. Instead of battling for the chalice of champions, the Pelicans once again found themselves out in the cold looking in.
Perceptions of Zion Williamson have also taken a nosedive. Once heralded as the savior and future cornerstone of New Orleans basketball, some have begun to doubt if the Pelicans should continue to bet on Zion. And honestly, I don’t blame them.
The first four seasons of Zion Williamson’s career have been polarizing, to say the least. The first two years were full of promise and show-stopping spectacles, while the last two have been rife with injuries, setbacks, and disappointment. I can only imagine how disillusioned both the franchise and the fans feel.
Let’s be clear: Zion is an otherworldly talent. When he plays, he is an absolute titan of the hardwood. But how formidable is wounded Titan really? Especially when the injuries can take away the most potent weapon in Zion’s arsenal. Currently, the foundation of Williamson’s game is his athleticism. His leaping ability allows him to throw down monster jams and swat incoming shots. His speed and quickness also allow him to keep up with quicker guards.
In essence, a great deal of Zion Williamson’s effectiveness comes from his legs. Needless to say, repeated injuries to his feet and legs could severely hamper his current and future playing abilities.
What’s the next chapter for Zion Williamson?
Ultimately, it is still far too early in Zion Williamson’s career to jump to any conclusions. As previously stated, he is only four seasons into his career. His rookie extension has barely aged a day, and despite criticism, Zion has proven time and time again that when he is healthy and able, he is in a league above all the other members of his draft class.
The moment New Orleans drafted him, they have been in championship discussions every year. Whether they are the top seed or a dark horse sleeper, the Pelicans are a team that demands to be taken seriously. And that is perhaps the most tragic thing about this entire ordeal.
It’s one thing for a No. 1 draft pick to fizzle out as Greg Oden did. Or for the headliner of a draft class to show decent promise in his first few seasons only to end up a shell of himself like Ben Simmons. But the tragedy of Zion Williamson is an entirely different level of heartbreak. Because he always gives you just enough reason to hold on to hope. Just enough to make fans believe that this time will be different. That this is the year that New Orleans will truly contend, only for it all to go wrong.
While I was writing this article I recalled the Greek Myth of Sisyphus, an ancient king condemned to spend eternity pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to end up careening all the way back down to the starting point just before cresting the summit. The tragic allegory can be summed up in a simple phrase: “So close, yet so far.”
As I read over this piece I repeatedly asked myself who embodied the tale of Sisyphus more: Zion Williamson, or the New Orleans basketball franchise as a whole? Even after spending many sleepless nights going back and forth on the topic, I haven’t been able to reach a definitive answer. But what I know for sure is this: the tragedy of Zion Williamson has been maddening for all parties.
From the wounded titan himself who as of yet has not given us reason to doubt his desire to dominate the game, to the Pelicans fans desperate to see their vaunted champion return, to the organization who have invested heavily in Zion but have yet to see any significant returns.
Sadly, and perhaps most maddeningly of all, it looks like all we can do is trudge back down that hill, put our hands firmly on the boulder, and start pushing again. Maybe this time will be different.