Zion Williamson was one of the biggest NBA draft prospects in recent history. But his career has been a bit disastrous so far. The former No.1 overall pick has barely played two seasons in his four-year career and fans are beginning to question his future in the league. It is pretty rare to see someone as talented as him go through the worst injuries. But when things like these happen, it is quite upsetting for the franchise.
Putting aside all the injuries and health issues, the New Orleans Pelicans star has shown a lot of potential on the court. Even though he hasn’t played as much as his peers, Zion is a scoring machine. He scored a career-high 43 points back in December 2022. Williamson has been very consistent offensively and defensively as well. So when he’s on the court, there’s nothing to complain about.
Williamson has been in the league for 5 seasons. He has averaged a career of 24.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. The Pelicans’ power forward can certainly be an NBA legend if he figures out a way to remain consistently healthy.
Zion Williamson has missed 216 games due to injury and rehabilitation
Zion Williamson’s injuries began before he made his way into the league. Just before getting drafted, he tore his meniscus during a game between Duke and North Carolina. He missed out on Rookie of the Year contention and the award was given to Ja Morant.
The Pelicans played 72 games in total during the 2019-20 season earning All-Rookie First Team honors. Zion only participated in 24 games averaging an impressive 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
You may remember Zion Williamson famously blowing out his Nike PG 2.5s and going down with an injury at Duke in 2019.
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) August 12, 2021
Zion made a strong comeback the following season appearing for 61 games out of 72. He put up 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game earning him an All-Star appearance. During the off-season following his first All-Star appearance, Zion suffered from a Jones Fracture which sidelined him for the entirety of the 2021-22 season. During this time, he underwent surgery but his rehabilitation period took longer than expected.
Zion Williamson was ready to compete during the 2022-23 season. He signed a five-year contract extension worth $193 million. Zion averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He was named an All-Star Starter but did not appear for the game due to a hamstring injury. The injury took place on January 2, 2023, and Zion played only 29 games. Thankfully, he has remained relatively healthy for the 2023-2024 NBA season.