Zion Williamson hasn’t yet made his NBA debut in New Orleans but he has already expressed his interested to remain with the franchise long-term.
“Growing up, I loved what Kobe [Bryant] did and Dirk [Nowitzki] did… My intentions are to stay with the Pelicans my whole career,” Williamson told Macklin Stern of Complex. “But if something happens, I wouldn’t leave because I hate the place. It’s just the business.”
The Pelicans are beginning a new era after trading away superstar Anthony Davis this offseason. Davis demanded a trade last February with over a year left on his deal and the team held onto him until this summer when the new front office – led by David Griffin – traded him to the Lakers.
Williamson is the star of the future in New Orleans. Like many top players, he may take recruiting free agents into his own hands one day. RJ Barrett, who played with Williamson at Duke and was drafted by the Knicks at the No. 3 overall pick, could be a player Williamson targets.
“Yeah, [Barrett and I] talked about it in college a lot. We kinda talked about it as we were both going to get our careers started and see how it goes. I mean, if we can possibly link up in the future, that would be great. But we both understand that if things are going well in our prospective cities, we’ll just kind of leave it there,” Williamson said.
The Pelicans brought on two other 2019 first-round picks (Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker) during an offseason of change that also includes the acquisitions of a trio of former top-three overall picks (Derrick Favors, No. 3, 2010; Brandon Ingram, No. 2, 2016; Lonzo Ball, No. 2, 2017). Williamson believes the Pelicans currently have the talent to reach great heights.
“Me being confident in my teammates, I would say I think the ceiling is [a] championship,” the latest No. 1 overall pick said. “But I have to be realistic about this. I have high expectations for us, but you gotta see how we’re gonna work. I think we are going to work, but it does take time to adjust to each player—knowing what they like to do, finding out their tendencies. So I think the quicker we find out those things, I think we have a very high ceiling.”
it doesn’t seem too smart to be saying this far away from a potential decision and without even playing for them yet
I believe he meant he had a certain respect for guys like Kobe and Dirk staying with one team.
Anthony Bennett said the same thing about the Cavs.
Hilarious
Haha we will see if he still says that a few years from now haha
And now starting for your 2025 Los Angeles Lakers…….
By that time, the Lakers should have a few more bungled top 5 picks to use in a deal, so maybe you are right.
Low key AD burn…
AD said the same thing in NO
Top draft picks have to say this. Anywhere in 5-7 years down the line if the team is not winning he will be demanding a trade to a big market
Wouldn’t it be weird if he said otherwise?
What is he supposed to say? “Well I just intend to take their money until I find a better opportunity down the road.”
What is actually going to happen is this. If he works out, he will be on the move to a bigger market. If he doesn’t, he will be on the move, not by his choice, because that’s what you do with players that don’t work out.
Of course…..
Bahahahahahaha!!! I needed a laugh… needless to say… 2024… Lakers.
Just wait till you play for them and don’t win for 7 years and your team is hard capped because they are such a small market.
Didn’t AD say the same thing?
Yes
Players can play where ever they want now. It’s great. You don’t have to be in La and New York to make the most money. Lebron just went there cause he’s got family and business there. You can be a god like Giannis in Milwaukee or that guy who will never be Kobe in La. ♂️
It could happen… this core, if it all clicks, can win titles within 3-5 years.
this is simply a smart rookie statement