The New Orleans Pelicans are gearing up for the 2022 NBA Draft, but the biggest addition to their team this offseason is already on the roster. Zion Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season but is putting the league on notice that he is ready to return.
Zion and the other young Pelicans have been in the practice facility from the start of the offseason, and Zion’s work to overcome his injury started long before that. If the videos and pictures circulating the Internet are any indication, Zion Williamson is ready to go.
In addition to photos of Zion popping into random pickup games, and chance encounters in church and shopping malls, we also got the new ad for the second edition of Zion’s signature Jumpman shoe.
In it we can see Zion putting in the work, and he looks a whole lot different than the guy who showed up to media day last season.
https://twitter.com/Zionwilliamson/status/1539297593037139969
Zion Williamson looks like a guy who got sick of reading all of the fat jokes and channelled his rage into the weight room.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson’s new ad
Of course, we can’t tell much from a 15 second ad and we won’t be able to officially declare Zion Williamson back until we see him do it on an NBA court.
But it does appear that Zion Williamson is not only healthy but in the best shape of his life, which is a great sign for the New Orleans Pelicans when it comes to his contract extension.
The Pels will undoubtedly offer Zion a max deal, but will try to work in some protections against future injuries in the form of incentive-based bonuses and possibly even a team option at the end of the deal.
Once that is all settled, Zion can get back to the business of dominating, and he has a team waiting for him that is ready to contend if he is at full strength, especially if they nail this pick in the draft or are able to use it to trade for impact talent.
As for the Zion 2‘s, I can’t say that they are my favorite, though I do own a pair of the first editions and love them. The most important thing is that these kicks protect the feet of Zion Williamson against further injury.
A healthy, full engaged Zion Williamson can propel the Pelicans into contention, and let’s hope these are signs that they are going to get that guy.