Pelicans’ Zion Williamson pushes back on biggest criticism of his polarizing NBA career

Zion Williamson said the criticism he faces from people “comes with the territory,” but what’s been the toughest thing for him during his career was hearing people question how much he cares.

The Pelicans’ star took part in a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Monday’s edition of “NBA Today.” He was asked what the most difficult thing has been during his six year NBA career, which has been hindered by injuries.

Advertisement

“There are pros and cons to being in a certain position. Critics come with the territory,” Williamson said. “The part that would get at me the most is, people saying I didn’t care and I care a lot. I really care and when you’re not on the court and you just have to sit on the sideline, how much my critics hate it, I hate it more than them. Because I don’t want to be on the sideline, I want to be out there on the court. That was a part of the process of looking in the mirror. Am I doing enough? Am I really doing what I need to do?

“Going through all those injuries and missing lots of time because of it, it did a lot on my mental, but it also helped me grow as a pro.”

Williamson has struggled to stay healthy during his time in the NBA and critics of the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft have bashed him for everything from his fitness and his weight to whether he cares about playing.

Advertisement

During his rookie season, he played in just 24 games and didn’t make his debut until Jan. 22, 2020, after suffering a torn meniscus during the preseason.

He missed all of the 2021-22 season and had his 2022-23 campaign cut short due to a hamstring injury that limited him to just 29 games.

Williamson is on track to surpass 50 games, which he has only done twice in his career, although he tweaked his ankle during a win over the Jazz on Saturday night.

The Pelicans star said that missing his third year in the NBA was the “most difficult point” of his career.

“There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game,” he said. “But the whole time I’m looking at a doctor and the doctor is telling me that, ‘yeah we’re going to perform this surgery, but if this surgery doesn’t work we really don’t know the next step.’ And people are saying what they’re saying and everybody is entitled to their own opinion. It is what it is. I’m in Portland rehabbing, not knowing if my foot’s going to heal.

Advertisement

“And it was frustrating and I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball. I just wanted to play the game I loved, but everytime you turn the TV on and every time I checked my phone, it was nothing but negative criticism. And at the time, it did a lot.”

When Williamson has been healthy, he has been a presence in the front court.

This season, he has averaged 24.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Pelicans, who are just 19-43 and one of the worst teams in the league.