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Former NBA guard and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose says New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson shouldn't play this season.
Williamson underwent surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in October. Shams Charania of Stadium is reporting the Pelicans and Williamson expect the No. 1 overall pick to make his debut this month:
“You see how he running? He look like a 60-year-old man,” Rose said. “He running like me right now and I'll be 47 in a couple of weeks. You know old he is? He's 19-years-old, man. Do not, Pelicans, put Zion Williamson out on the floor in January. If he tells you he's ready to go, you say, ‘Aight big fella, I appreciate that. Practice for two more weeks and we'll figure it out.' “
Although the meniscus surgery Williamson underwent is unknown, most experts believe it was a meniscectomy rather than a true repair since the initial estimated timeline of recovery the Pelicans gave was six-to-eight weeks.
In his lone season at Duke, Williamson put on an absolute show. The forward put up 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 68.0 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 64.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Williamson has focused on refining his eating habits during his rehab. Throughout the season, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and VP David Griffin have said that Williamson hasn’t suffered any setbacks in his rehab.
The Pelicans are likely going to miss the playoffs this season. Is it really worth it for New Orleans to play Williamson and risk his long-term future in a lost season? Only time will tell.
