Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

‘Bust’- NBA Analyst calls out Pelicans’ Zion Williamson for His Lack of Availability

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Zion Williamson was one of the most hyped prospects coming into the NBA at just 19 years of age. He was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans as the number one overall pick and at that time it seemed like he was going to take over the NBA and become the face of the league. However, various controversies off the court, his lack of availability, and the injuries that he’s suffered, has kept him away from achieving that next step to become a true superstar in the NBA.

When Williamson is on the court, we’ve seen what he can do. The Duke product averages 24.7 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 58.9 percent shooting from the field and he has also averaged 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks in his career. He has the talent to ball out, there’s no question about that. A couple of season ago, the Pelicans were the number one seed in the West when Williamson was healthy. While talent wise he has maintained his status as the 1st overall pick, it’s mostly the commitment towards playing ball is what is questioned at times.

Zion is the only lottery pick from the 2019 NBA draft that has never played in a playoff game and it’s not because the Pelicans haven’t made it there. With Williamson in the team, the Pelicans have made the playoffs twice but he tends to be hurt whenever the postseason comes around. Williamson is one of the best players in the NBA but compared to what was expected from him, he has failed to deliver so far in his career.

Stephen A. Smith Calls Zion Williamson a “Bust”

Stephen A. Smith has remained fairly critical of Zion Williamson throughout. He’s given him his flowers when he deserved it and remained critical when he was needed to be. Recently, Smith talked about Williamson suffering yet another injury and this is what he had to say;

“I feel very very bad for the Pelicans and the city of New Orleans. Cause Zion Williamson is a star caliber talent. When he is one the court and healthy, he’s a monster.” Smith continued, “The problem is, he’s rarely available. And as great as he is, the word ‘Bust’ comes to mind, not because of his talent, I’m only talking his availability. If you’re not available it doesn’t matter how great you are. And he’s almost never available. That is the situation.”

“If you traded him right now, for example, do you realize you can’t ask for the phone for Zion. Well, you can ask but you ain’t gonna get it. Because he hasn’t been available. Nobody is going to give that up which leaves the Pelicans in the position, although they altered things contractually to their favor in some respects. You can’t expect but so much for him because his availability is what’s going to come into question.”

"The word 'bust' comes to mind."

– Stephen A. Smith on Zion Williamson

(🎥 @FirstTake )

pic.twitter.com/CsI5K6DmHF
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 1, 2025

Also Read: What Is the NBA 3-Point Record in a Single Game?

Zion Williamson’s NBA Career So Far

Williamson was one of the most hyped prospect ever coming out of Duke and everyone wondered how great he could become in the NBA. However, as great as he is at times, the fact remains that he’s been unreliable, struggles to maintain a decent body weight, and has not even played a full season in the NBA despite being in the league for 5 years already.

This was the narrative for Williamson when he was 19 years of age and it has continued to be the story even at the age of 24. While granted that he played 70 games last season, but he was once again injured when the post season came around.

The Pelicans franchise has done a lot to build around Williamson. They’ve added scoring, defense, playmaking, and everything else that’s needed to compete for a championship. But Williamson has yet to capitalize the opportunity presented to him, and people are starting to wonder if the Pelicans will decide to pull the plug off and trade Williamson away.

Zion Williamson’s Injury History

Williamson was originally supposed to play for six seasons but he missed the entire 2021-22 season due to an injury. Out of the 492 total games conducted in the matter of six seasons, the Pelicans’ star has played in just 214 games so far. That is just 43.3 percent of games played and he has missed more games than he has played so far in the NBA!

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to their respective injuries.

McCollum, who was diagnosed with a right foot bone contusion after sustaining the injury on March 23 at Detroit, will… pic.twitter.com/t6YhOF4NTX
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 31, 2025

The biggest concern around Williamson has always been his weight, and even though this season he’s been the thinnest he’s ever been since entering the NBA, he is yet again out for the rest of the season with an injury. This is the fourth time, in his six seasons in the league, that he’s played in 30 games or less, and we wonder what’s next for him and the Pelicans.

Also Read: Players With Most 60-Point Games in NBA History

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Eric Divakaran

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I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.