Zion Williamson's Career Cut Short - What Happened?

  Zion Williamson made waves upon debuting in the NBA with his exceptional hops and powerful dunks, prompting many people to label him as a potential Jordan or Magic Johnson 2.0; but as the Pelicans rookie struggles with multiple injuries these expectations may now be diminished. And if his injuries continue to mount up, his career could end up prematurely. What Happened? Zion Williamson has emerged as college basketball's star attraction and is being heralded as a once-in-a-decade talent by NBA legends such as Kevin Durant as someone who could change the game with his amazing dunks and his massive presence on the court, which makes watching him truly enjoyable. Williamson has battled injuries since his days at Spartanburg Day School and Duke, prompting many to question if he will ever remain healthy enough to play in the NBA. Williamson's injury against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday has cast serious doubt upon his future as a professional basketball player, as well as drawn attention to both the NCAA amateurism policy and billion-dollar shoe companies' influence. Williamson made a significant impression last season as one of the league's premier scorers and defensive players, featuring an outstanding defensive style and remarkable shooting abilities. He scored 20 or more points in 49 of his first 60 career games -- the highest total since Michael Jordan himself! He was one of the primary reasons why the Pelicans were considered contenders to reach the playoffs this season, averaging an impressive 115 points a game with the sixth-best defense in the league. But Williamson and his teammates' fortunes have been upended by a serious foot injury, which could put an end to his career and render him incapacitated for months or even years to come. No one knows whether he will ever fully recover from his fractured right foot which has sidelined him temporarily. As it remains too soon to know for certain if Williamson can return, it is essential that he makes steady progress through his recovery process. With Pelicans games becoming less winning over time and Williamson having lost value due to trading him away, perhaps in exchange for higher draft picks or another marquee star like Murray State's Jamel Morant (if eligible). The Pelicans’ Decision Zion Williamson hasn't played since January 2 for the Pelicans since suffering an ankle injury that required him to miss time in rehab - an indication of just how risky this league can be even for superstar players like Williamson. The Pelicans have made it abundantly clear they intend to remain committed to Williamson. At a meeting with media earlier this year, Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin stated that extending him "is a fairly easy decision." Williamson is expected to sign a five-year, $181 million deal this summer - the highest rookie deal in franchise history. While his role on the team remains to be seen, it's expected he'll become an important scoring source. Williamson will likely be one of the standout players during 2021-22 season, providing fans with endless entertainment as he effortlessly shifts between physicality and agility on defense. Williamson could easily become an All-Star and win championships. As of now, the Pelicans possess a talented young core that features Jrue Holiday and Elfrid Payton - providing they can keep all this talent together they may be able to turn things around. However, the organization is having some major issues with Williamson's work ethic. Bleacher Report's Jake Madison reported that their star recruit has skipped workouts and even dozed off during a team film session. Noteworthy is also that the Pelicans have been wary about introducing Williamson back onto the court this season, opting not to play him in any preseason games and only providing limited practice time for him. Concerns have been expressed by former players like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal that this decision by New Orleans Pelicans to limit Williamson has raised. While concerns exist among some in the league, one cannot fault them for wanting to play it safe - no team wants another setback like what occurred with Williamson during college career. The NBA’s Decision The NBA hasn't seen many first overall picks miss so much time during their careers. When injured so severely that they need time off to recover, their career often seems finished; either signing a qualifying offer for one year with predetermined salary, and becoming unrestricted free agents the following season or declining the offer to become unrestricted free agents and attempt to find another team willing to give them a lucrative contract may be options available to them. Williamson appeared to be an exception; he returned to play before October was out and appeared stronger with every outing. At NBA Media Day, both Zion and Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin gave everyone confidence that he would play by Opening Night. On January 2, however, after 3-on-3 work practice he left early to go to the locker room due to an injured right foot and was later expected to return but has now been declared out for this season by New Orleans. Williamson's injury has been an incredible setback for both the Pelicans and fantasy owners. Widely considered one of the premier young players in the league, his presence added another layer to their offense and added incredible scoring prowess from both inside and outside positions. A healthy season could have yielded incredible numbers from him: from dominating in the paint, scoring from all corners of the court while providing top defense on defense; with such incredible versatility being an asset. Once it becomes apparent that Kevin Durant will miss this season, many will begin to speculate as to his true value as an NBA player and whether his injury-prone nature makes him too risky of an investment. It would be too soon to draw any definitive conclusions regarding Kevin's long-term health or assume he could become another Greg Oden; sports medicine has evolved greatly in the past decade and Kevin Durant stands as evidence that an injury needn't mean career-ending consequences in basketball. The Final Words Unfortunately, Zion Williamson will miss his pro debut and it's disappointing for NBA fans, but this serves as a reminder that there is plenty of young talent within its ranks - Zion certainly isn't the first big-name freshman who's experienced his pro debut being interrupted due to injury; nor will he be the last. Inside the Smoothie King Center was an electric atmosphere created by the Pelicans' setup of a playoff-like environment complete with red T-shirts for every seat and over 160 credentialed media members - but there was one person missing: Zion Williamson. However, thousands in attendance were still treated to one of the most exciting plays of summer league: Williamson drove hard toward the basket before smashing it home, flexing in delight. Crowd reaction was deafening; just before play was set to end, however, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake intervened and stopped all action in its tracks. Zion Williamson made headlines earlier this month when he posted an Instagram video showing himself throwing the ball off of a backboard and catching it between his legs, prompting team trainers to clear him for one-on-one work with team trainers and then for 5-on-5 drills, full practice, and then games - according to New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin in early December. Williamson will inevitably miss a significant portion of 2021-22 season for New Orleans Pelicans and fantasy owners alike, creating an immense financial strain and hardship. Williamson's injuries could be related to his weight, reported as around 284 pounds. Yet history is not kind to players of Williamson's size - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson all experienced illnesses that limited their careers; Kareem missed most of his second seasons due to injuries. Zion could see similar consequences of his injury in terms of his NBA future or whether or not it makes him stronger when the time comes for him to return. Only time will tell; nonetheless, Pelicans fans deserve to see Zion back out there this season.