All summer, the Pelicans kept saying that Zion Williamson had changed. Weighed down by injuries, the strong winger had become aware of the efforts to make to stay healthy and efficient.
“I can tell you that Zion Williamson has never been in our gym more than during this offseason”explained David Griffin, the club's sports boss. “He spent almost the entire offseason in New Orleans, which is a change. He worked a lot on his side. He spent time on it. For us, we've certainly learned over the years what works and what doesn't. But much of this work falls to him. The question is whether he is willing to do what it takes to succeed…”
Except that after a quarter of the season, many are wondering about the reality of the change made by the All-Star.
Difficulties with defensive withdrawal
Certainly, Zion Williamson weighs in on a lot of matches, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists, with a 57% shooting success rate. But this is his lowest points average since arriving in the NBA, as well as his lowest rebounding average, as well as his lowest skill percentage.
What is most worrying is that he often seems to be running out of energy, even out of breath. Against the Lakers, in the semi-final of the NBA Tournament, he had difficulty ensuring the defensive withdrawal, from the first quarter…
Zion Williamson thus arrived at training camp with a few extra kilos on the scale, but the general impression is that over the matches, the kilos have accumulated, instead of decreasing. In the front row, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal did not hesitate to criticize the failing form of the Pelicans player.
“He doesn’t listen”…
“He saves himself when he runs” thus regrets Shaq on the TNT set. “It’s not to clash. It's a lesson from a great interior to another guy who could be a great interior. He saves himself when he runs. I had the same problem. But I thought I was going all out when I was running. »
The former Magic and Lakers pivot even believes that Zion Williamson did not ” the style “ physicality of an NBA player and regrets that he does not go for the rebound. “You say that because he might be the best player in the league” recalls Kenny Smith, while Shaquille O'Neal agrees…
The problem, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, is that many people in the franchise (David Griffin, CJ McCollum, etc.) explained to Zion Williamson the importance of eating better and being in better physical condition. But “he doesn’t listen”according to daily sources within the club.
| Zion Williamson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 24 | 28 | 58.3 | 42.9 | 64.0 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 22.5 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 61 | 33 | 61.1 | 29.4 | 69.8 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 27.0 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 29 | 33 | 60.8 | 36.8 | 71.4 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 26.0 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 19 | 31 | 57.4 | 33.3 | 64.2 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 5.6 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 22.2 |
| Total | 133 | 32 | 60.1 | 34.2 | 68.5 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 25.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
