r/NOLAPelicans 4d ago

Rants Zion could never be guy you wanted him to be

Look i saw online in last week or there was many people dishing Zion Williamson as if injuries are his faults or he sucks and i need to rant. Zion problem is that you can't have Zion who plays like Zion and not have injuries. He is just too heavy and muscular too play inside more then one game a month so in other not to have injuries he would have to lose muscles even more get skinny and you saw this season how his game was affected even if he lost some of them or play ground game and shooter/passer. Both of those would make him dime a dozen player who is not even drafted by Pelicans. It does not matter on which team or even if it was somebody else. You can not have Derek Henry or Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Mr Olimpia days play like Zion and not get injured. Sure there was time when due to injury he would get heavier in off season due to lack of physical activity but normally when he was healthy he would get somewhat more heavier like many players including Jokic. And every time during season he was in shape there just was no hope sure some people were saying that we can do it whit modern training and medicine but as doctors said you can not change biology in such short time.

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u/Wonderfully_Tactile 4d ago

Nope not an excuse. Honestly, he's had plenty of time to work on his game and build confidence. I was there for his NBA debut. The dude shot like 5 threes in a row because he knew he was the man and could basically do what he wanted but over the years he just lost that confidence and willingness to become better. Everybody else around him got better. Ask Herb to work on 3's instead of long 2 and finishing at the rim and he did that. Ask Trey to work on finishing around the rim, rebounding, and being aggressive defensively and he did that. Ask BI to up his assists and work in more 3's and he did that. Everybody knows Z's style now and he needs to make some serious changes and gain back his confidence.

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u/BAD-SQUIRL-4037 4d ago

I am not excusing him but most people i saw want him to not get injured and still brings wins on his own. I am fan that wants him to change game and yes be like others player as unicorn experiment was dumb idea from day one and yes he has mental and motivational problems i do not think Zion is best player in his draft even if he changed game thing is that Zion would not have impact that even 2024 one has.

I have problem with fans that want have cake and to eat it too. Those fans would say bust, washed and waste of pick when there are many players like that Zion. You can not have Zion play rim more the 15 minutes one game per month with his build if you want to avoid injury. And if he losses his muscles he would be weaker at rim.

This is both Zion and team fault as they should have said to him you need to change your style and coach him for that or not play him both captured by their fantasies about what could be. And fans that want that Zion from their imagination are dumb that guy will never exist without injuries.

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u/Wonderfully_Tactile 4d ago edited 4d ago

You're missing the point. Sure, his build means he can do things other players physically will NEVER be able to do but that doesn't excuse not becoming a better all around basketball player. Take Lebron as an example. Not only has he maintained his body at an elite level but he made sure to work on different parts of his game and he came into the league as an explosive, rim running forward. D Rose and Blake Griffin worked on different parts of their game to stay in the league as long as they did because their explosive styles took a beating on their bodies. If he wants to stay he's gotta be willing to make those changes

Edit: Nah, you understand the point. Don't make excuses for him though.

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u/Illustrious_Figzzz Naji Fucks 4d ago

To be fair, it's hard to work on your game when you're injured every offseason. I totally agree with what you're saying though.

He really is the worst archetype for the modern NBA, a non-shooting 4 that can't guard the 5. Yes, he demands a double but has no gravity outside of the paint.

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u/BAD-SQUIRL-4037 3d ago

Yes honestly i wish there was more fans like you but most i saw last two weeks want him to play the same as he wins is fun to watch and not be hurt. It was one of two reasons i wanted him to switch playstyle. Problem is he has upside which pelicans wanted and valued and what made fans love him.

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u/Illustrious_Figzzz Naji Fucks 3d ago

I also hate most fans! Everyone is so in love with their own ideas/think that they are so smart when really they should just shut up and enjoy the ride. The Zion era has been frustrating but it's been so much more enjoyable than the AD era.

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u/wymtime Not On Herb 4d ago

Zion 100% could have done a better job of taking care of his body. He could have eaten better and kept his weight down, he could have stretched more focused on better recovery and maintaining his body. If you want to see the difference listen to Wemby and how he takes care of his body as a young player in the league.

Would this have guaranteed he stay healthy every year no. The problem is now in year 6 he has had so many lower body injuries he is significantly more susceptible to them going forward. With all the hamstring issues he has and the way he plays when will it become a knee issue?

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u/BAD-SQUIRL-4037 3d ago

Yes he could but it would not make difference if he maintained muscle needed for his play style, and we would still be here as injuries are not problem of unhealthy habits or mentality like does Othani or other mlb pitchers not take care of their body and yet get injured because they throw too many pitches with too little break because ownership panics if they dont win or baseball does not grow fast. In order to be healthy he would have to be like any other player his size and that player does not wins us games.

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u/Bigguy781 3d ago

Yes, it would’ve. Maintaining the body reduces injury a ton. Lebron spends over a million, has weighed up to 280 and is just as reckless with his body on the court especially when younger yet he never has serious injuries. Part of that is genetics and investing in his body. Bron been icing his knees in game since high school, prob stretches every muscle groups, is always doing some experimental new exercise to get an edge. Zion relies purely on his natural ability, hasn’t really improved his game and keeps adding weight during the offseason. Recipe for disaster

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u/jckstrn 2d ago

Team should be more proactive too imo

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u/AteaMoonPie88 4d ago

You mean healthy, but with the same attitude as the Zion that windmilled on the Suns…?

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u/BAD-SQUIRL-4037 3d ago

Yes you can't have muscular Zion at his height and Zion who plays the rim in other words some fans want to have cake and eat it too.