“He doesn’t want to be great!” Shannon Sharpe GOES OFF on Zion Williamson’s health issues
Shannon Sharpe went off on Zion Williamson's health struggles as the Pelicans continue to struggle at the bottom of the Western Conference.
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Shannon Sharpe calls out Zion Williamson over health struggles
The New Orleans Pelicans are watching their season unravel game after game with more than half their cap space looking on from the bench. While the team has struggled with multiple injuries, none have been more prevalent than Zion Williamson. After mission his 13th game of the season, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe offered some strong criticism for Williamson’s health concerns.
Zion Williamson came into this season ready to go. However, after playing just six games, he fell victim to a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of action ever since. As the Pelicans continue to sink deeper into the trenches of the Western Conference, Shannon Sharpe called out the bulky forward’s health issues that have plagued him throughout his career.
He doesn’t want to be great… Zion has the problem, what I told my kids – I can’t want something more than you want it… Everybody wants Zion to get in shape except Zion. Everybody wants Zion to have discipline, except Zion. So how can I want something, how can the team want something more for him, than he wants it for himself.
Shannon Sharpe via Nightcap
In a 15+ minute rant on his Nightcap podcast with Chad Johnson, Sharpe went off on the mismanagement of Zion Williamson’s health issues, primarily his weight struggles. Williamson came into the NBA as a generational prospect, especially due to his unparalleled athleticism. However, this was not to be as he remains plagued by injuries. The forward has played only 190 games in six seasons.
Sharpe attributed a major chunk of Zion Williamson’s injury concerns to his weight issues, as he has often faced criticism for showing up out of shape at the start of seasons. Further in the show, ‘Unc’ went on to grill Williamson over his dietary struggles and failure to stay in shape despite signing a $197 million contract extension in 2022.
How long is Zion Williamson out with injury?
Expectations for Zion Williamson coming into the 2024-25 NBA season were at an all-time high. The 24-year-old forward had his healthiest year last season He appeared in 70 games for the Pelicans, the highest of his career. After the Pelicans made it to the playoffs last season, pressure was high to exceed last season’s performance. However, the team sits at the bottom of their conference with a 4-15 record.
One of the biggest contributors to the Pelicans’ record has been their struggle with injuries, primarily that of Zion Williamson. After missing out on Wednesday with the same hamstring injury that has kept him out, he stacked his missed games total to 13 (and counting) for this season. As of now, there remains no specific timeline for when he will return from his left hamstring strain.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, an injury such as the one suffered by Williamson requires a 4-6 week rehabilitation period. However, given his injury history, the Pelicans may be willing to keep a watchful eye on his recovery for far longer. This will likely ensure that their prized prospect can play out the remainder of his season on the court.
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Armaan Gupta
(334 Articles Published)