Zion Williamson talks about foot injury, excitement to return

Zion Williamson missed the entire ’21-’22 NBA season with a broken right foot. The injury forced him to miss the New Orleans Pelican’s playoff push last year after an All-Star second season. That didn’t stop the franchise from giving him a max rookie extension last week. From here, it’s all excitement for Williamson about his future and the franchise’s.

Williamson spoke with the media in a press conference after signing that extension. He says it was even more meaningful considering it was around the same time as the announcement of his injury.

“On my birthday last year is when I found out that I broke my foot. I was out the whole year. It was a tough year,” said Williamson. “Then, for the Pelicans to come give me this birthday gift? I’m not going to let them down.”

New Orleans drafted Zion No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft but he has played just 85 games since. The former Duke Blue Devil has been able to show some undeniably special flashes in that limited time. He has averaged 25.7 points and seven rebounds on 60.4% from the field in his NBA career. Even with the injury concerns, that sample size was enough for New Orleans to give Zion the five year extension worth as much as $231 million.

After starting the season 1-12, the Pelicans turned their season around. Brandon Ingram led the way alongside Jonas Valanciunas before the team traded for CJ McCollum from the Portland Trailblazers. Their accumulation of talent pushed the No. 1 seeded Phoenix Suns to a six game series in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Coming up just short left them wondering about their missing piece on the bench in Williamson. With his new contract inked, he says he never wants to let anyone down again.

“I’m not gonna let the city down. I’m not gonna let my family down. Most of all, I’m not gonna let myself down.”