When Zion Williamson entered the NBA in the 2019-20 season as the No. 1 pick in the draft, many had high expectations for him.
After all, he’s a 6-foot-6 forward who weighs over 280 pounds but possesses ample athleticism and is a force to be reckoned with in the paint.
But so far, his career has been greatly marred by multiple injuries.
Hall of Fame big man Kevin Garnett says that Williamson’s main problem isn’t that he’s injury-prone, but that he’s lacking something mentally.
“I don’t think it’s physicality with dude (Zion), I think it’s between his ears”
If Zion’s mind is right everything else follows. He’ll be in the talks with the best in the League, his team will cook… but that’s a BIG if 💯 pic.twitter.com/ZGCNZLdRiC
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) August 18, 2023
Some have criticized the New Orleans Pelicans star for what they see as a lack of commitment to keeping his body right and working on his conditioning and fitness.
In four NBA seasons, he has played just 114 games, and he missed the entire 2021-22 campaign after he suffered a fracture in his foot during the preceding offseason.
This past season, things were going relatively well for him, until he sustained a hamstring injury in early January that shelved him for the remainder of the schedule.
When he has been healthy, Williamson has been one of the league’s most productive and unique players.
He has career averages of 25.8 points a game and 60.5 percent field-goal shooting, and he is nearly unstoppable when he maneuvers himself into the paint.
If he somehow manages to stay healthy, New Orleans will have a strong team that some feel could even become a dark-horse championship contender.
In Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, they have two other bona fide scoring threats, but in the end, their chances of doing something special all rest of Williamson and whether he will avoid injury.
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Zion Williamson Gets Challenged By 2 NBA Legends