On Monday, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that the season was over for Zion Williamson, who will sit out the rest of 2024-25 due to a back problem.
Although many suspect Williamson is actually out because the Pelicans have no chance of reaching the playoffs, the undeniable truth is that he has only played in 30 games this season.
Sitting down on “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith had some kind but harsh words for Williamson
He said he remains a “star-caliber talent” who can be a “monster” on the court, when healthy.
The problem is that he has a very hard time staying in good shape and being able to play.
“The word ‘bust’ comes to mind, not because of [Zion’s] talent,” Smith said.
“The word ‘bust’ comes to mind, not because of [Zion’s] talent.”
@stephenasmith reacts to the Pelicans shutting down Zion Williamson for the rest of the regular season. pic.twitter.com/OXEYLat5aX
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 1, 2025
Williamson is definitely a superior basketball talent and averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists this season, shooting 56.7 percent from the field.
The man can be incredibly dominant and is still one of the most fearsome stars in the league.
But it seems that he can’t stay healthy for an entire season.
Last season, he played in 70 games, which was his best year in the league.
For three out of the five seasons he’s been in, Williamson has played less than 31 games.
There have been rumors of the Pelicans parting ways with Williamson and trading him, but Smith said they need to keep their expectations in check.
Even with all his talent, Williamson might not be a huge commodity on the trade market.
In fact, dealing him away might be difficult because of his long history of injuries.
Williamson is a major talent but injuries continue to get in his way, so how much longer will the Pelicans wait for him to get healthy?
The post Stephen A. Smith Uses One Word To Describe Zion Williamson appeared first on The Cold Wire.