Zion wants long-term stay with Pelicans after NBA playoff run

After watching the New Orleans Pelicans playoff success, Zion Williamson, who missed the entire 2021-22 NBA season due to a broken right foot, wants a long-term agreement with the team.

The 21-year-old American forward is eligible to sign a long-term contract this summer after being selected first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Williamson sees the young Pelicans, who challenged overall top seed Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs, as a squad he wants to be a part of next season.

“I wouldn’t be able to sign it fast enough,” Williamson said Friday of a contract extension. “Anybody that knows me knows I want to be here.”

There were sceptics when the Pelicans finished the regular season with a 36-46 record, but two play-in game victories and two wins against Phoenix before losing their best-of-seven series served to demonstrate the team’s potential.

“My first two years, it was a good locker room. This year, with us making the playoffs, it was more together,” Williamson said. “Guys are already excited about coming together this off season.”

The Pelicans were eliminated by the Suns on Thursday and Williamson was merely a spectator, as he has been since September foot surgery.

“It sucks watching from the sidelines. I just want to be out there,” Williamson said.

“Seeing the potential, we’ve got a lot of great pieces and I’m excited to get on the court with those guys.

“From a physical standpoint, I definitely could have played. But me and my team and the front office we decided longevity was better than trying to rush back.”

Williamson missed the first 24 games of his NBA rookie season due to a knee injury sustained during the preseason. He averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in 61 games for the 2020-21 season, thrilling fans with his dominant play and flying slam dunks.

As a member of the Pelicans, Williamson believes he will be able to contribute to team success while also having numerous opportunities to win individual accolades.

“The more your team wins, the more the individual awards will come,” he said. “We’re a special group. I feel like a lot of great things will happen.”

Won’t sneak up on foes

Pelicans coach Willie Green was confident about the future after the playoff run.

“I believe this is the start of something special,” Green said. “We are excited about what we were able to do but we’ve got some work to do and we look forward to that.

“My message to our team is there will be expectations. You won’t sneak up on anybody.”

A young but talented New Orleans squad was able to challenge the reigning Western Conference champions, a veteran-laden lineup.

“They’ve all grown up right before our eyes,” Green said. “That experience will help us in the future. They felt what the playoffs is like. They know how hard they have to play.”

Green noted he won’t have any final decision regarding contracts and Williamson, but was happy to hear he wants to be part of what Green is building.

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