Pelicans star Zion Williamson opens up about his struggles with injuries: ‘It’s been frustrating’

Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson, the No. 1 general choice within the 2019 draft, has handled accidents for almost all of his skilled basketball profession.

Williamson has been sidelines since Jan. 2 resulting from a hamstring pressure. On Tuesday, the 22-year-old NBA star spoke with reporters as New Orleans continues preparations for Wednesday’s play-in match sport towards Oklahoma Metropolis.

“I really like this sport. … For these individuals who suppose I simply wish to sit on the sideline simply to take a seat over there, I don’t know why individuals suppose that. Nah, it sucks. I simply wish to be enjoying basketball.”

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Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans, out resulting from damage, watches from the bench throughout a sport towards the Golden State Warriors at Chase Heart on March 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California.   (Loren Elliott/Getty Pictures)

Williamson appeared in 29 video games throughout the regular-season. A win over the Thunder would permit the Pelicans to advance to face the loser of Tuesday’s sport between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

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When requested how his physique feels Williamson replied, “Bodily I am fantastic, now it is only a matter of after I really feel like Zion. I do know the ambiance I might be coming into based mostly off just like the playoff expertise. So now it is only a matter of after I really feel like Zion.”

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots throughout the second quarter towards the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Heart on January 02, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Pictures)

Regardless of Williamson’s declaration of well being, he there’s not a excessive degree of expectation that he will probably be on the court docket with the Pelicans this postseason. He additionally acknowledged that he must overcome some psychological hurdles earlier than he returned to motion.

“It is a bit little bit of a psychological battle, as a result of you realize after I reaggravated [the injury] again in February, it was robust,” Williamson mentioned. “So after I go to make sure strikes, there’s that hesitation. Generally there’s not and typically there’s. And I perceive the magnitude of those video games developing and I do not wish to be on the market hesitating or doing one thing that will have an effect on my crew in a foul means.”

Williamson’s healthiest season got here in 2020-21, when he appeared in 61 video games. He averaged 27 factors and seven.2 rebounds per contest. He earned All-Star honors for his efficiency that season.

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans prepares to shoot a free throw throughout the sport towards the Philadelphia 76ers on January 2, 2023 on the Wells Fargo Heart in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Pictures)

Williamson mentioned it is going to be a “collective resolution” between himself and the crew about when he is in a position to make his return to the court docket.

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Williamson famous that he does his finest to disregard all of the chatter about him.

“It is robust. I am unable to lie,” he mentioned. “From my perspective, I simply wish to play basketball. I wish to hoop. I wish to play the sport I really like. However the actuality of it’s whether or not I verify my telephone, whether or not I am simply watching TV, it doesn’t matter what it’s, I am unable to actually escape what the world thinks, what individuals’s opinions are. So, it is irritating.”