2024-03-16 10:13:28
Already in high school he began to stand out and earn a name nationally through the videos with his best plays that went viral at that time. During that stage he achieved several individual awards that translated into numerous offers from different universities such as Clemson, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, etc. He even received an offer to play football at LSU, the state University of Louisiana. Finally, she committed to the Duke University Blue Devils.
University stage
In his only season at the university, he averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks, in 33 games played.
On February 20, 2019, he suffered a grade 1 knee sprain after his foot went through the shoe he was playing in. Nike, the shoe brand that Williamson was wearing at the time, saw his stock market value drop by $1.1 billion the day after the event.
Zion’s left foot goes through the shoe causing a knee injury. Source: Getty Images
Zion did not play any of the six remaining regular season games and his university career ended on March 31 when they lost in the regional final against Michigan State, in a game in which he managed to score 24 points; capture 14 rebounds, 7 of them offensive; steal 3 balls; and plug another 3.
Williamson was named ACC player of the year and the conference’s top rookie. In addition, he was included in the ACC’s best defensive team and the best rookie team. Finally, Sporting News named him player of the year and best rookie. The next step would be the NBA draft.
Fuente: Getty Images
Arrival in the NBA
Los New Orleans Pelicans They were in charge of selecting him in the first position of the draft. From the beginning, the expectations and desire to see this player on the NBA courts were huge.
Fuente: Getty Images
The first thing that surprised him upon his arrival was his weight and height. At 1.98 meters, his weight was 129 kilograms. This set off alarm bells for many, who warned of the problems he could suffer, especially at the level of the joints of the lower body, due to excess weight and his style of play, which stood out for great jumping power and explosiveness towards the hoop. . And they were not wrong.
On October 13, 2019, just before the start of the season, he underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. This injury was not caused by a bad movement or a bad fall, but was the result of excess weight, which progressively wore down his cartilage.
On January 22, 2020, Zion made his NBA debut in a game they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. His numbers that night were: 22 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, and 4 of 4 in triples, in 18 minutes.
At the end of that season he was included in the best rookie quintet, averaging 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
First seasons marked by injuries
The following season, 20/21, was the best in terms of numbers and matches so far. In 61 games played, his averages were 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, in addition to being chosen for the first time to play in the “All-Star game.” However, bad luck once again manifested itself against Zion. Due to a fracture in one of his fingers, on May 8 the Pelicans announced that he would not play any of the remaining games.
Fuente: Getty Images
During the summer of 2021, he suffered a fracture in his foot for which he had to undergo surgery in September, with his sights set on the start of the season. Nothing is further from reality. The young power forward could not play a single game in 21/22.
On July 1, 2022, he signed his renewal with the New Orleans franchise for 5 years and a total of 231 million dollars.
2022/23 seemed to be the season in which he could finally redeem himself from his past. He played in 29 of the first 37 games, averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals, and was chosen to play in the All-Star game for the second time in his career, a game that never got to play. On January 2, 2023, he suffered a hamstring injury that kept him off the court for the rest of the season.
We reach the 2023/24 season, Zion’s fifth in the NBA. After 4 difficult years, Zion has played 54 of the 65 games the Pelicans have played so far, averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. His team is fifth in the West standings, and his connection with Brandon Ingram, the team’s second-best player, is at its best. That is why there are great hopes for this team for the “play-offs” and, especially, for the next few years.
ZION CAN FLY pic.twitter.com/aAHIeiUc2h
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 10, 2024
That Zion is playing at a high level and that he has found regularity and consistency is great news for the Pelicans, for the league, and for the fans, but above all for Zion himself, a player who was destined to score. a before and after in the league and that, due to injuries, he has not yet been able to demonstrate his full potential.
#odyssey #Zion #Williamson