Long before Cooper Flagg announced his commitment to Duke, the Montverde Academy product was already the most talked-about non-NBA player in the nation.



He’s not expected to be in college for more than a year, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have more than enough time to make an everlasting impact on the Blue Devils.



As a matter of fact, even though he hasn’t been in Durham for long, he’s already tied a record shared by two program legends: Zion Williamson and Shelden Williams. 



<h2>Cooper Flagg ties Duke Record</h2>



With his 22 points, eleven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks over the No. 2 Auburn Tigers on Wednesday, he had his second 20-point, ten-rebound, two-block outing as a Bluke Devils.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241207_BUS_288299_Cooper-Flagg1-1024x576_0b9aeced.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-287062" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption> Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) crashes the boards on a free throw attempt during the NCAA Basketball game between the Seattle Redhawks and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Greg Atkins CSM</figcaption></figure>



He had already done it in early November when he had 26 points, eleven boards, and two swats against Kentucky, joining Williams and Williamson as the only Blue Devils to log at least two games of that kind in the past 40 years. Needless to say, his coach had nothing but positive things to say about him.



<h2>Jon Scheyer praises Flagg’s work ethic </h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“He’s always wanting to get better in every aspect of his game,” Jon Scheyer said. “I like the strength that he’s playing with. I’ve always felt like Cooper’s a one-time guy. He only needs to see something one time to get adjusted. I saw that with him with [Team] USA, and I saw that in high school when he had tough moments.”</blockquote>


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Duke’s schedule will get slightly easier up next, as they won’t face another ranked team until early January, opening up the door for Flagg to keep adding to this impressive tally.

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg ties epic Zion Williamson record at Duke

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg ties epic Zion Williamson record at Duke - Bolavip US

miniaturas

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zion Williamson</a> is a special and unique kind of player. His physical dominance and grace remind us of a shorter Shaquille O’Neal, and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans </a>sure hoped he turned out similar to him.



But Zion has played in less than 50% of the games since he entered the league. Off-court scandals, rumors, speculation, reports about his weight, and a never-ending string of injuries have made people question his future in this league.



However, former<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA </a>champion John Salley believes people should just give him a break already, and he went as far as to blame the league for his injury and weight issues.



<h2>John Salley Defends Zion From Criticism</h2>



“Well, when you become a professional athlete, everything becomes a part of that profession: your intake of food, your workout regimen, your hangout regimen, your mentality of study. When you’re an NBA player, the only thing that you should do is is think about advancing as being an NBA player,” Salley said on The Inside Scoop.



“It wasn’t Zion’s fault with the weight gain,” he added. “The reason why he was going to get hurt was because we play 15 games a month in the NBA. They play 30 games a year in college. So in two months he played a college career/season and he’s played against heavier opponents. The flights are different, the environment is different.”


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Even so, Zion isn’t the only player who entered the league after one year in college, yet he seems to be one of the few who can’t shake off injury issues. At the end of the day, all we can hope for is that he’ll one day be able to stay on the court.



<h2>How Many Years Does Zion Have In His Contract?</h2>



Zion just signed a five-year contract extension worth $197,230,450. The fully guaranteed deal makes him $39,446,090 per year, and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent by the end of the 2027-28 NBA season.

Former champion defends Zion Williamson amid never-ending woes

Former champion defends Zion Williamson amid never-ending woes - Bolavip US

The&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">New Orleans Pelicans&nbsp;</a>have been quite patient with<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;Zion Williamson.</a>&nbsp;And few people could deny that he’s one of the&nbsp;most spectacular players to watch in the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;NBA</a>&nbsp;when he’s healthy.



But his&nbsp;health and weight&nbsp;have been major issues ever since he entered the league, and some believe it’s just a matter of time — or a good trade package — before the Pelicans give up on him.



Considering that,&nbsp;Bleacher Report’s NBA analyst Zach Buckley&nbsp;put together an interesting trade offer that would send him to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-pistons" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Detroit Pistons&nbsp;</a>for a more-than-decent return.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Pistons Could Land Zion Williamson</h2>



(via Bleacher Report)



“Detroit Pistons receive: Zion Williamson and Kira Lewis Jr.



New Orleans Pelicans receive:&nbsp;Bojan Bogdanović, James Wiseman, Killian Hayes, 2026 first-round pick (top-three protected) and 2028 first-round pick



Should Williamson finally stay healthy, after totaling just 114 appearances in his first four seasons, he could help launch Detroit up the Eastern Conference standings.&nbsp;Between Williamson and Cade Cunningham, who has hinted at a breakout in his time with the Select Team, the Pistons could have the league’s next dynamic duo.



(…)



Spacing could be a struggle, and defense would be an uncertainty,&nbsp;but no one could question the club’s talent and upside.



New Orleans, meanwhile, would have to simply want out of the Williamson business, since his trade value isn’t exactly peaking.&nbsp;Then again, if the Pels aren’t convinced his availability issues are going away, they might want to take what they can get now and avoid the risk of him becoming expensive damaged goods down the line.



For someone who has played as little as Williamson has, this is a healthy return.”


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The Pelicans have been reluctant to&nbsp;part ways with their former first-overall pick. But truth be told, they may never find a better trade offer for him, as he comes with too much risk.

NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson could be traded to the Eastern Conference

NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson could be traded to the Eastern Conference - Bolavip US

For years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>fans and analysts have had nothing but questions about <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zion Williamson’s</a> future. Will he stay with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans?</a> Will he ever be healthy?



Notably, the second issue has been the biggest talking point about him. He’s played in less than 50% of the games since he entered the league, and he’s looked overweight and out of shape more often than not.



That’s why former star Charles Barkley urged him to be more mature and hire a professional chef, stating that it’s not fair to him, the league, and his team that he’s in such bad shape.



<h2>Charles Barkley Rips Zion Williamson And His Environment</h2>



“He needs to get in shape, playing and simple,” Barkley said. “You know, this is professional basketball. We’re not babysitters. To make the kind of money that these guys are making today, I don’t think it’s a lot to tell guys to get in shape.&nbsp;“



“Hey, I don’t know Zion, seems like a good kid, but it sounds to me like he don’t have great people like him,” Chuck continued. “Your family and friends should say, ‘Yo man, you’re gonna screw up your future.’ And it’s not fair to the Pelicans. It’s not fair to the NBA. But the bottom line, he just gotta get in shape. Plain and simple… He just got to grow up.”




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Barkley also struggled to stay in shape during his career, so he knows what he’s talking about. Hopefully, Zion will be able to put his eating habits in order and give his body a hand to stay healthy.

Pelicans GM makes telling statement about Zion Williamson\&#039;s future

Charles Barkley has some harsh words for Zion Williamson - Bolavip US

Charles Barkley has some harsh words for Zion Williamson

One didn’t have to be an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>scout or basketball savant to realize that<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Zion Williamson</a> was a special kind of talent. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> did what everybody would’ve done and drafted him first overall.



Of course, Zion came with some baggage — no pun intended — as there were serious concerns about his weight and how his body would hold up, especially after some injuries in college.



Those durability issues are the main reason why he has been tangled up in countless trade rumors over the past couple of years. However, GM David Griffin claims they’ve never actually considered moving on from him.



<h2>Pelicans Never Wanted To Trade Zion</h2>



“I think what’s unfortunate is that he’s a name that generates clicks no matter what the link says,” Griffin said. “Zion puts on his socks. People click on that. So it makes it really easy for people to manufacture rumors around him — because they don’t have to have any actual credibility behind what they say to generate clicks.”



“As a society, this isn’t [just] true of sports, this is true across all platforms — reality doesn’t matter anymore,” added Griffin. “Generating clicks matters. So unfortunately for Zion, he’s just an oddity and somebody that people pay a great deal of attention to and manufacture a lot of stories around. We never had a single [trade] conversation that Zion was part of.”


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The jury is still out on him, as he’s dominated when available, but that has happened in less than 50% of the games since he entered the league. Should that trend continue, the Pelicans might have to at least test the field for their star youngster.

Pelicans GM makes telling statement about Zion Williamson's future - Bolavip US

Pelicans GM makes telling statement about Zion Williamson's future

Not so long ago, there was absolutely no debate that <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zion Williamso</a>n should be the first-overall pick in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> didn’t even blink to get him, and every single team in the league would’ve made that same decision.



But it’s never been a secret that Zion did come with a lot of baggage — no pun intended. There were major red flags and concerns about his weight and whether his body was going to be able to hold up in the long run.



Thus far, it seems like those few doubters were right. He’s played in less than 50% of the games since entering the league, and there have been multiple worrisome reports about his work ethic. Notably, even he may have confirmed that, coming clean about his poor eating habits.



<h2>Zion Williamson Admits He’s Struggled With His Diet</h2>



“Since this you, I will be real,” Zion told former All-Star Gilbert Arenas on his ‘Gil’s Arena’ Podcast. “There were times when I wasn’t, that sh*t’s hard man. I’m 20-22, have a lot of money, feel like all the money in the world, man.”



“It is hard. I am at that point now because of certain things and the wisdom around me. I don’t wanna say older, but the people around me with wisdom put me on game to certain things and go from there,” the Duke product continued.



Zion has been in the news for his injuries and off-court controversies more often than for his stellar play. Hopefully, he’ll be able to get it together and stay healthy, as he’s just so gifted and evidently dominant when he’s on the floor.

Zion Williamson makes strong confession about his diet - Bolavip US

Zion Williamson makes strong confession about his diet

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zion Williamson </a>has been all over the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA </a>news lately, but not for the best reasons. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> star is reportedly on the trade block for the first time in his career.



Never-ending injuries, a lack of availability, concerns about his weight and eating habits, and now a scandal with an adult film star and a bizarre love triangle have made Zion more popular than his actual play.



That’s why it’s not surprising to see that the Pelicans are reportedly considering a clean break and a trade. And according to Bill Simmons, it might happen before Thursday night’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Victor-Wembanyama-profile-Age-height-weight-team-and-nationality-20230421-0031.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Draft.</a>



<h2>NBA Rumors: Zion Could Be Traded Before The NBA Draft</h2>



“The Zion thing is a real subplot,” Simmons said on the latest episode of his podcast. “I had somebody tell me yesterday that I trust, he will not be on that team come Thursday.”



<h2>Pelicans Want A Fresh Start</h2>



Another report states that even if the Pelicans fail to move him before the upcoming NBA Draft, it’s just a matter of time before they part ways with their franchise player: 



“Still, even if Williamson isn’t moved before Thursday night, that is far from the end of this story,” reported Will Guillory of The Athletic. “It’s only the beginning, as behind-the-scenes tensions between Williamson and the Pelicans have intensified over the past few months.”



The Zion saga has always been full of mystery and conflicting reports. However, it seems like this is the end of the line for him in the Big Easy, and both parties might be better off that way.

NBA Rumors: Potential date of Zion Williamson trade revealed - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Potential date of Zion Williamson trade revealed

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumor-podcaster-bill-simons-reveals-zion-williamson-future-with-the-pelicans-20230619-BUS-13635.html">Zion Williamson</a> could be looking for a <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/video-of-nikola-jokic-celebrating-denver-nuggets-nba-title-goes-viral-20230617-BUS-12592.html">new team</a> after the drama with Moriah Mills, it is even rumored that the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/the-only-way-the-pelicans-would-trade-zion-williamson-20230616-BUS-11999.html">New Orleans Pelicans</a> would already have a replacement ready to be selected during the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft.



Although his future with the Pelicans is a matter of ‘rumors’, a couple of days ago a well-known Boston-based Podcaster, Bill Simons, said on his show that a reliable source had told him that Williamson would be leaving the Pelicans soon.


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So far the Pelicans have not confirmed anything, but they are ready for what will be the upcoming draft where other prospects could be better players than Williamson and the Pelicans would be willing to do anything to select those players.



<h2>What NBA teams might be interested in a trade with the Pelicans for Zion Williamson?</h2>



In multiple shows such as NBA on ESPN, The Rich Eisen Show, The Ringer and other well-known podcasts, they are talking about the benefits that could be brought to the Pelicans if they trade Zion Williamson.



The teams that might be interested in a trade with the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-shaq-welcomes-nikola-jokic-to-the-big-man-alliance-but-what-is-that-20230620-BUS-14146.html"> Pelicans</a> are three, one being the Knicks and so far they are the most rumored team to trade for Zion. But the Suns could trade Deandre Ayton, it’s a luxury they could afford and there’s also the case that the Rockets could use a couple of players in a multiple trade for Zion.


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Zion Williamson is MVP material, but it all depends on whether he stays healthy during the coming years. He has been off the courts for a long time due to his injury, but it is likely that he will return to action at any moment.

NBA: Boston Celtics Champion praises one of Nikola Jokic\&#039;s qualities

The strange connection shared by all current NBA teams in California

NBA Rumors: Is there any team interested in Zion Williamson? - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Is there any team interested in Zion Williamson?

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/the-only-way-the-pelicans-would-trade-zion-williamson-20230616-BUS-11999.html">Zion Williamson</a> was a college <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/video-of-nikola-jokic-celebrating-denver-nuggets-nba-title-goes-viral-20230617-BUS-12592.html">basketball star</a> but that is in the past, he still hasn’t finished showing all his talent in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-only-four-denver-nuggets-players-will-be-free-agents-in-2023-20230618-BUS-13461.html">NBA </a>and the worst thing is that now his pro life is involved in a drama with a model who accuses him of sentimental betrayal.



The New Orleans Pelicans have never won an NBA Championship and they hoped that Zion Williamson was going to be the player who would take them to the NBA Finals, but apparently that dream never came true.


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Williamson’s fate is unclear, rumors are gaining strength, he wants to put the drama with Moriah Mills behind him but it seems that it will last longer than it should. So far no NBA team has shown interest in Williamson.



<h2>What did Bill Simmons say about the future of Zion Williamson?</h2>



During his most recent podcast posted on spotify, Bill Simmons said something about Williamson’s future with the Pelicans: “a reliable source informed me that Zion will no longer be on the Pelicans come Thursday”, it was mentioned at the 50:14 mark of his recording. <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1x5iYhW10xFdxEDgUNE2He?si=u62J6ACZQIGefqLqudb3rg" rel="nofollow">Source: Spotify (click to listen)</a>



If Williamson leaves the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-knicks-could-land-zion-williamson-in-proposed-trade-20230615-BUS-11287.html">New Orleans Pelicans</a> it is likely that he will be replaced by Scoot Henderson who is being tipped as the likely pick for the Pelicans, but as of now Williamson’s fate is a rumor.


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Regarding the situation with the star Moriah Mills, it is not clear if Williamson will make a statement in this regard or if his relationship with the mother of his future child will continue since it is likely that this situation could end his relationship.

NBA Rumors: Podcaster Bill Simons reveals Zion Williamson future with the Pelicans

Video: Doctor explains why Victor Wembanyama is injury-prone

NBA: Boston Celtics Champion praises one of Nikola Jokic&#039;s qualities

NBA Rumors: Podcaster Bill Simons reveals Zion Williamson future with the Pelicans - Bolavip US

Not so long ago, most teams in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> would’ve given up half of their roster to get <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zion Williamson</a>. Now, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> might not even be able to get half his value in return.



As talented and physically dominant as Zion is, he’s played in less than 50% of the games since he entered the league, and he hasn’t even been available in pivotal must-win games late in the season.



That’s why Adrian Wojnarowski doesn’t think the team will dump him at this point, as they’re looking to climb into the top-3 of the upcoming <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-draft-spurs-already-have-a-plan-for-victor-wembanyama-20230615-BUS-11512.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft, and Zion isn’t worth that much right now.



<h2>Pelicans Won’t Trade Zion Unless They Get A Top-3 Pick</h2>



“It’s hard to trade a player when his value is a little bit low,” Woj said. “He played 29 games last year. Unless they get in at 2 or 3, I don’t think they get in at all. I would be surprised if they moved off him.”



“I won’t rule anything out; you can’t in this league. But I would be really, really surprised if Zion Williamson is not on New Orleans’s opening night roster,” Woj concluded.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">“I won’t rule anything out … but I would be really, really surprised if Zion Williamson is not on New Orleans’s opening night roster.”<a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wojespn</a> spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/ryenarussillo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ryenarussillo</a> about the latest he’s hearing regarding Zion and the Pelicans. Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/FDSportsbook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FDSportsbook</a>. <a href="https://t.co/G5NoYU0rx3">pic.twitter.com/G5NoYU0rx3</a>— The Ringer (@ringer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ringer/status/1669455290096336897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Crazier things have happened, and chances are the Pelicans are just done with him. Then again, it seems like it might take more than originally reported to get him out of the Big Easy.

The only way the Pelicans would trade Zion Williamson - Bolavip US

The only way the Pelicans would trade Zion Williamson

It’s been a while since the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-knicks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks </a>won an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship. Likewise, it seems like forever since they were able to land a star-caliber player, one like <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zion Williamson.</a>



Of course, this isn’t exactly the best time to talk about Zion. Off-court controversies, never-ending injuries, and some worrisome reports about his work ethic have raised questions about his future in the league.



But that’s precisely why this might as well be the only time the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Orleans Pelicans </a>even consider moving him. With that in mind, Jason Burgos of Sportsnaut believes the Knicks could get him in return for Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle, and two first-round picks.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Knicks Could Trade For Zion Williamson</h2>



“The New York Knicks’ interest in Zion Williamson has been long documented,” Burgos wrote. “While many Knicks fans will have flashbacks of Amare Stoudemire in a deal for Williamson, his upside is undeniable. Furthermore, it may also be their best chance to finally move Julius Randle. A former Pelican who might appeal to New Orleans now due to his durability over the last few seasons.”



“Plus, if the Knicks added bench star Immanuel Quickley and a couple of first-rounders next year in the deal, that could be enough to part with the oft-injured star,” the insider added.



This is a risky move for both parties. The Pelicans would add depth to compete right away but no legit stars — unless they find one in the Draft. As for the Knicks, they could either land a superstar or a guy who’ll be in street clothes more often than not.

NBA Rumors: Knicks could land Zion Williamson in proposed trade - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Knicks could land Zion Williamson in proposed trade

It didn’t take long before people realized how special <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zion Williamson</a> was. He manhandled <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> defenders like AAU kids, and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> were one of the best teams in the league with him on the floor.
But then again, that didn’t last long. Williamson missed 46 straight games with a hamstring injury, which is way more than the average player tends to miss. Then, he claimed he wasn’t mentally ready to play, even though he was spotted doing windmill dunks.
Zion refused to suit up for an elimination game, and that rubbed plenty of people the wrong way. That includes former NBA champion <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/ESPN-analysts-blame-fat-Luka-Doncic-for-the-Mavs-failure-20230404-0009.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kendrick Perkins</a>, who thinks the Pelicans should just give up on him and trade him already.
<h2>Kendrick Perkins Says Pelicans Should Trade Zion Williamson</h2>
“If we can see the weight he’s put on, you bet the organization sees it as well,” Perkins started. “When you’re dealing with a hamstring injury, it doesn’t take that damn long to come back. When you first get injured two things are gonna happen: they’re gonna tell you what’s the plan, your recovery, treatment, all that.”
“The second thing they’re gonna talk to you about is nutrition, your diet. I’m pretty sure the organization has told Zion time and time again, to watch what you eat, and make sure you go on a diet so you can come back and recover,the word trust comes into play,” continued Perkins. “If I’m the front office of the New Orleans Pelicans, do I trust this guy to be my franchise player. Do I trust him that I can give him the keys to my car to drive it? The answer is no, and his value is decreasing. So if I’m the Pelicans, I’m looking to trade Zion Williamson this offseason.”

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KendrickPerkins</a> thinks the Pelicans should be looking to TRADE Zion �� <a href="https://t.co/GUUj1XH0Qy">pic.twitter.com/GUUj1XH0Qy</a>
 — First Take (@FirstTake) <a href="https://twitter.com/FirstTake/status/1646524910188265474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a> </blockquote></div>
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As wild as this may seem, he might be right. This team cannot trust him to stay on the floor, so why should they build their whole future around him? Maybe, it’s time to build around CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram instead.

Kendrick Perkins shares wild take about Zion Williamson

Kendrick Perkins shares wild take about Zion Williamson - Bolavip US

Everybody around the league is talking about <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zion-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zion Williamson</a> again. The former first-overall pick has played in one-third of his possible games since entering the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a>, and it seems like he bailed on the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-orleans-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Orleans Pelicans.</a>
He was spotted doing windmill dunks before the Play-in Tournament game vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he didn’t play because he reportedly didn’t feel confident enough to be back on the floor.
That didn’t sit well with plenty of guys around the league. That includes former NBA champion <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Ja-Morant-and-NBA-players-suspended-because-of-guns-20230308-0029.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Jackson</a>, who thinks he’s risking losing the respect of his teammates for not even trying.
<h2>Stephen Jackson Calls Out Zion Williamson For Not Trying To Play</h2>
“He’s missed a lot of games, bro. Got his money, right? At this point, let’s just see what you got,” Jackson said. “If you just can’t go and it’s looking that bad, yeah we’ll shut you down. I don’t think being off and rehabbing, whatever you’ve been doing, has done anything for you because you’ve been out for so long.”
“At this point, if you’re somewhat healthy where you think about playing and you’re not confident mentally, you gotta go out there and play and get the confidence by playing and see what you can do,” Jackson added.“Sitting there thinking about it, if you don’t know, go ahead and give it a shot… I think your teammates will respect you more if you try to give it a shot. This is the playoffs. This is not pre-season. We have a shot to do something great.”

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Stephen Jackson calls out Zion Williamson for not playing last night
 “I think your teammates will respect you more if you try to give it a shot”
 (Via <a href="https://twitter.com/shobasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shobasketball</a> )
 <a href="https://t.co/4jCOCqnxwD">pic.twitter.com/4jCOCqnxwD</a>
 — NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1646619685557764097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a> </blockquote></div>
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It’s a shame, but it feels like the Pelicans need to plan without Zion for the future. If he’s available, then great, so be it. But they can’t put all their stock on someone who’s never healthy when it matters.

Former NBA champion rips Zion Williamson for not even trying

Former NBA champion rips Zion Williamson for not even trying - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Finals-JJ-Redick-finally-apologizes-to-Zion-Williamson-20221215-0021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> don’t have a margin for error right now. They were one of the best teams early in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Postseason-When-do-the-playoffs-start-in-2023-20230329-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> season, but Brandon Ingram missed plenty of time, and it’s been months since we last saw <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-News-Shaq-makes-bold-comparison-with-Zion-Williamson-20221213-0054.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zion Williamson.</a>
The Pelicans are a completely different team when those two are on the court. Zion is naturally dominant, and his sole presence on the floor makes everything different for Willie Green’s squad.
But now that <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/cj-mccollum-breaks-the-silence-on-zion-williamsons-detached-attitude-20220225-0003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he’s not playing</a>, he’s still trying to have a positive impact on the team. According to Chris Haynes, he recently called his teammates out for playing with no sense of urgency now that their season is on the line.
<h2>Zion Williamson Called His Teammates Out After Loss To Lakers</h2>
“Zion he might not be putting work on the court right now for them but off the court, he is doing a lot,” said Haynes. “A source informed me that after the Pelicans lost to the Lakers on March 14th, Zion Williamson actually got on his team in the locker room after that game and was telling them, ‘Listen, guys, we are playing with no sense of urgency.&apos;”
“I was told that he questioned their effort,” Haynes continued.“I was told that he said accountability needs to be in-house and he said they can’t feel sorry for themselves just because they’ve had key players out for extended periods. So, he’s challenging those guys to go out there and make do with what they got until they can get whole again.”

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Chris Haynes says on the TNT broadcast that Zion Williamson got on his team in the locker room after the Pelicans lost to the Lakers on March 14. <a href="https://t.co/h7CuINi0cq">pic.twitter.com/h7CuINi0cq</a>
 — Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) <a href="https://twitter.com/ohnohedidnt24/status/1640900892399468545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2023</a> </blockquote></div>
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<h2>Zion Might Be Back In Time For The Play-In Tournament</h2>
Of course, it would all be better if Zion could just lead by example and be on the court. And fortunately for them, there’s still a chance he’s back in time for the Play-in tournament, granted they’re still in contention.
“There’s good news for the Pelicans,” Haynes reported. “Zion Williamson is working out on the court. A source told me this morning that he had a rigorous workout this morning. Looking good; his explosiveness is looking there. As of right now, the plan is to be re-evaluated at some point in the middle of next week, and at that juncture, the Pelicans would only have about two games left in their schedule.”
“So coach Willie Green will have a decision to make as far as what they do,” added Haynes. “But again, as far as the re-evaluation goes it is not sure if he will be cleared at that time. So, there are still some hurdles but there is some good news; he is making some progress. No setbacks as of right now.”

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisBHaynes</a> shares the latest update on the return of Zion Williamson <a href="https://t.co/2bpO6rKGam">pic.twitter.com/2bpO6rKGam</a>
 — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1640900767686209537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2023</a> </blockquote></div>
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The Pelicans still have a shot at making the playoffs, and those chances are way higher when their best player is on the court. So, if he’s actually healthy this time, it should make things quite interesting in the Play-in tournament.

Zion Williamson isn't happy with his teammates

Zion Williamson isn't happy with his teammates - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-news-zion-williamsons-biggest-issue-for-the-2022-23-nba-season-according-to-shaq-20221002-0027.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zion Williamson</a> has been overly criticized to start his career. If it wasn’t <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-News-Shaq-makes-bold-comparison-with-Zion-Williamson-20221213-0054.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the weight,</a> then it was his reportedly poor work ethic. Then, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jj-redick-rips-zion-williamson-says-hes-a-detached-teammate-20220223-0003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JJ Redick claimed</a> that he wasn’t even a good teammate.
The New Orleans Pelicans traded for C.J. McCollum last season when Zion was out with an injury. Several days went by and McCollum admitted that he had yet to hear from Williamson, which didn’t sit well with Redick.
Per the former sharpshooter and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-News-Paul-George-issues-strong-warning-to-the-NBA-20221206-0066.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Clippers</a> star, there’s a minimum standard for decorum any player should live up to, and Zion had failed to reach that standard by not communicating with his new teammate.
<h2>Redick Called Zion A DetachedTeammate</h2>
“This is a pattern that we’re seeing with Zion, again and again, look, I was his teammate,” Redick said. “I can describe him as a detached teammate. That is an accurate statement. This is just a basic, basic level of humanity being a teammate.”
<h2>The Veteran Apologized To Zion</h2>
So, now that Zion is finally back on the court and leading the Pelicans through an impressive stretch, Redick didn’t hesitate to backpedal and clear the air on his comments about the former first-overall pick:
“The first time was with Zion last year when CJ McCollum had given an interview at All-Star break, and they asked him what he and Zion had talked about,”Redick said, per Bleacher Report.”CJ said, ‘I haven’t spoken to Zion.’ Which I thought was strange — CJ had played five games with the Pelicans at that point. … As a teammate I said he kinda distances himself or whatever, which is something that I said to Zion when I was his teammate. It wasn’t like this was the first time, I was just saying it publicly. But I wish I’d handled that differently, and I probably could have just avoided it altogether if I really wanted to.”
 
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Zion continues to silence his critics on and off the court. There’s no denying that, when healthy, he’s got the potential to be the best player on Earth. Hopefully, he’ll avoid missing more time with injuries.

NBA News: JJ Redick finally apologizes to Zion Williamson

NBA News: JJ Redick finally apologizes to Zion Williamson - Bolavip US

Latest news from Zion Williamson. Find out about all the news related to Zion Williamson on bolavip.com/en

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