New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson finds himself embroiled controversy after receiving a one-game suspension in January 2025 for repeated violations of team protocols. The 24-year-old forward missed a critical team flight following multiple lateness incidents, prompting head coach Willie Green to take disciplinary action during a pivotal stretch of the 2024-25 NBA season .
Injury Woes Continue
Williamson’s suspension compounded existing challenges for the Pelicans, who’ve endured his extended absence due to a left hamstring strain that sidelined him for 27 games earlier this season. Since returning on January 8, 2025, the former Duke standout has averaged 22.3 points and 6.1 rebounds through 14 games – below his career averages of 24.8 points and 6.5 rebounds .
Contract Concerns Surface
The 2019 No. 1 draft pick’s $197 million contract extension includes strict weight maintenance clauses requiring him to stay below 295 pounds with under 5% body fat. Recent reports confirm Williamson met these benchmarks entering training camp after shedding 25 pounds during the offseason . His current $36.7 million salary for 2024-25 remains fully guaranteed despite availability issues .
Playoff Push Complications
New Orleans faces heightened scrutiny regarding Williamson’s durability as they battle for Western Conference positioning. The explosive forward showed flashes of dominance in April 2024’s play-in tournament clash against Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 40 points before suffering late-game injury . Team medical staff maintains confidence in Williamson’s rehabilitation progress despite fan frustrations over recurring health setbacks.
Legacy at Crossroads
Once hailed as basketball’s next generational talent, Williamson’s career trajectory now sparks debate among analysts. His per-game averages remain elite when healthy (27.1 PPG in 2023-24), but critics highlight missing nearly 40% of possible games through five NBA seasons . With four years remaining on his max contract, Pelicans executives emphasize long-term development over short-term results.
