The New Orleans Pelicans have decided Zion Williamson will sit out all remaining NBA Summer League action. With load management trends only becoming more prevalent, Zion is at risk of missing the upcoming Team USA camp.
Zion Williamson is the future of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise. The team will be overly cautious with Williamson through his rookie season. Through a statement, the Pelicans announced that a first-half knock of knees playing against the New York Knicks has ended Williamson’s Las Vegas NBA Summer League adventure.
David Griffin hired Aaron Nelson to ensure plenty of healthy rosters in the season to come. For that reason, Zion could miss the Team USA camp as well. Griffin said on ESPN’s show The Jump, that Williamson needs to improve his conditioning to be regular-season ready.
"“He came to us, he wasn’t in great condition. And from a cardio perspective, it wasn’t a great situation to begin with. And so when he took that shot, really it was just from my standpoint, it was just caution to shut him down at that point. There was no reason to push him in the situation he was in.”"
Griffin brushed off any knee concerns, saying Zion ‘was fine’ but the team had to be careful. Griffin did admit the biggest factor was concerns about Williamson’s cardio. That should be concerning to the New Orleans Pelicans, Zion Williamson, and Team USA. Griffin stated that Nelson’s performance and player care program is a foundation of the franchise’s new culture and direction.
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Gregg Popovich, a military-trained championship-grade basketball coach, is a highly respected man of exacting standards. This purposeful approach to life extends even to team dinners and fine wines. However, those dinners and wines do not affect his cardio and energy when it concerns winning basketball games.
Popovich is leading Team USA and had invited Zion Williamson to attend the camp on the practice squad. Zion could play himself into a role in the final roster, should he prove his worth. Team USA camp is filled with the best players on the planet. No one can fully shine if they are out of shape.
Out of shape players with recent bruised knee concerns are of no use to Popovich. An overworked Zion Williamson is to be avoided at all costs, especially months before the regular season begins.
The Pelicans may pressure Zion to sit out Team USA camp, out of an abundance of caution. Team USA could keep Zion on the side for most of the camp, as a sign that being in peak shape is key.