One of many league’s greatest younger gamers might have his profession slip away earlier than our eyes.
Based on a report from The Athletic, Zion Williamson’s newly signed max contract is now not assured in its ultimate three years. Williams signed a five-year, $197 million contract in July 2022. Nevertheless, as a result of Williamson missed greater than 22 video games final 12 months, he triggered a clause in his contract that turns all assured cash within the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 seasons into non-guaranteed cash.
The 2019 first-overall decide can now be waived as early as the tip of the 2024-2025 season. This transfer would lose Williamson $126.5 million of his deal, according to Spotrac. The Athletic famous Williamson’s contract additionally has methods to earn again ensures by enjoying sufficient video games and hitting particular weigh-in checkpoints.
Williamson has had an up-and-down profession since becoming a member of the NBA. He got here into the NBA as one of the vital hyped faculty prospects in current reminiscence however has missed important chunks of time all through his profession. Williamson not too long ago got here beneath fireplace for a lackluster efficiency throughout the in-season event, with Shaquille O’Neal calling him out of form:
“Does not run hard,” O’Neal mentioned. “It’s not a diss. It’s going to be a lesson from one great big man to another guy that can be a great big. Does not run hard. I had the same problem. I thought I was running hard.”
O’Neal later went to bat for Williamson, arguing that he may very well be the most effective participant within the league. The four-time NBA champion in contrast Williamson to an early-career model of himself.
“I was just like that. People used to pull me to the side… ‘Hey man, you had 24 points, but you are not working as hard as you need to be.’ I was like, ‘What, what are you talking about?’ Once he decides to get that killer and go for it, he’s going to be a dangerous man.”
In stretches, Williamson has performed like probably the greatest within the league. Within the 29 video games Williamson was obtainable final 12 months, he averaged 26 factors, seven rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Solely 5 different gamers averaged these numbers final 12 months, per Stathead: Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
There may be nonetheless time for Williamson to show his profession round. The Pelicans heart has performed 23 of 28 video games this season, averaging 22 factors, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per recreation. He’s on tempo to play a career-high 67 video games, barring any important harm. Based on Pelicans EVP of basketball operations David Griffin, that is probably the most critically Williamson has ever taken skilled basketball.
“This was the first summer where we’ve seen Zion really take his profession seriously like that and invest it off the court on his own in a way that I think is meaningful,” Griffin mentioned in October, including: “He found a level of commitment that was important.”
