Zion Williamson has not played a game this season for the New Orleans Pelicans following surgery this past offseason to repair his right foot. Reports came out last week that he may need another surgery on that foot, which would likely ruin his chances of playing this year.
NBA insider Shams Charania said on Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show that he hasn’t gotten any indication that Williamson is going to play this year.
"When @jj_redick speaks he speaks from a position of having information & knowledge. I haven't gotten any sense that Zion Williamson is gonna play this season & that definitely is alarming" ~@ShamsCharania#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/XoazHx0ay8
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 23, 2022
While that is obviously a huge concern for the Pelicans, there may be more concerning issues that the team has to worry about. The Pelicans made a huge move at the NBA trade deadline to get star guard CJ McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers. McCollum recently shared during the NBA All-Star weekend festivities that he had not spoken to Williamson following the trade.
CJ McCollum — the president of the NBA Players Association — says he hasn’t spoken directly to teammate Zion Williamson.
McCollum tells TNT broadcast crew, “I know about as much as you do right now. But I’m going to get to the bottom of it.” pic.twitter.com/KXfBBn5tym
— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) February 20, 2022
Williamson is currently away from the team recovering from his injury in Portland. Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd spoke about the Pelicans star Wednesday on his show, where he has a bold prediction on the future for the star forward.
“We always talk about in the NBA teams tank,” said Cowherd. “I think what Zion is doing is he is tanking.”
“He is putting on weight, rehabbing in Portland. He is totally detached from the team. That isn’t who he is, he was a joyful young kid at Duke.
“I think Zion is being really shrewd here. He does not want to be there. This is ending, and it’s ending soon.”
"What Zion is doing is actually savvy… This is ending and it's ending soon."
— @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/sW4MqGHaI8
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 23, 2022
While this is just pure speculation from Cowherd, it does seem like things keep adding up to mean that Williamson is distancing himself from the Pelicans. As for what it all ultimately leads to, we’ll have to wait and see.
