The New Orleans Pelicans are getting a little too used to starting seasons off without All-Star forward Zion Williamson. The 2021-22 NBA season will be the second time in three years that they are beginning the season without him in the lineup.
Williamson will be sidelined a few weeks as he recovers from a foot injury, which adds to his laundry list of lower-body injuries he has suffered since his time at Duke. For a person of Williamson’s size, these injuries will begin taking a toll.
He is one of the heaviest players in the league, being listed at 284 pounds. But, some sources said that he surpassed the 300-pound mark this offseason. Williamson made the trip to Minnesota for the Pelicans’ preseason game and many observers there were struck by how heavy he looked compared to his listed weight.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: When Will Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Return From Injury?
Injuries are never good, but for someone such as Williamson, they are very concerning. An NBA executive shared his concerned feelings about his injury history and weight fluctuations so far in his career.
“These are the injuries you have to be the most concerned about, a foot injury for a guy with noted weight issues,” said one Western Conference executive.
This is something that Williamson has touched on previously. While making an appearance on The Old Man & The Three podcast earlier this year, he shared he believes there is another gear that he can take things to in regards to his conditioning and weight.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: When Will Pelicans’ Zion Williamson Return From Injury?
Zion Williamson noted that he needs to find that balance so that he doesn’t lose so much strength that he is unable to do the things he has become accustomed to doing on the court.
The New Orleans Pelicans are certainly hoping that he finds that happy medium because they cannot afford to continue putting themselves in early holes to begin the season awaiting him to be healthy enough to get on the court.
