Pelica Debrief
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Reasons New Orleans Pelicans fans should temper Zion Williamson knee concerns

By Willie Lutz

METAIRIE, LA - OCTOBER 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans works out during an all access practice at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana on October 16, 2019. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA - OCTOBER 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans works out during an all access practice at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana on October 16, 2019. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 13: Lonzo Ball #2 and Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans look on during a pre-season game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 13, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 13: Lonzo Ball #2 and Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans look on during a pre-season game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 13, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Zion Williamson isn’t the first guy to need work done during his first year in the NBA.

When young players make the leap to the NBA, the game speeds up and gets a lot more physical than any other level of basketball. For Zion Williamson, that resulted in the tearing of his meniscus in his right knee during the preseason.

Around the internet, there have been some folks drawing parallels between Zion Williamson and fellow former first overall pick Greg Oden. However, there are a lot of reasons that’s comparison is problematic, including the sheer size differential.

Zion stands 6’6″ and Oden towers at 7’0″. Both play very different styles of basketball, which has a lot to do with their half-a-foot of size differential. Oden did weigh 300 lbs entering the NBA, while Zion weights 285 lbs, but the latter moves a heck of a lot quicker than the other.

Instead of Oden, fans should be drawing comparisons to  Ben Simmons and Blake Griffin, both of whom didn’t suit up for their first year in the NBA. Both players suffered lower-body injuries and have gone on to have fantastic careers, even with Simmons just now entering his third full season.

Griffin missed the whole year with a stress fracture and break within his left kneecap before winning Rookie of the Year in 2011 and appearing in six All-Star Games.

In Simmons’ case, he rolled his right ankle in practice, resulting in a break of the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot, which kept him out through his rookie campaign. He’s gone to recover just fine, winning the 2018 Rookie of the Year and making the All-Star Game in 2019.

Williamson seems to be different than these two, however, because he’s slated to return in two months on the longest timeline, though he’ll likely be anxious to get back on the floor even sooner.

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