Five NBA stars who are poised to return from injuries in the 2022-23 season
By Dylan Carter
New Orleans is loaded up for a healthy Zion Williamson
In a twisted, roundabout way, the New Orleans Pelicans managed to get better without Zion Williamson in the lineup. The team developed some of its surrounding cast and made wise choices to build depth worthy of a playoff run. Though his time in the NBA has been limited, it’s clear that Zion is worth building around and VP of Basketball Ops David Griffin is doing just that.
Through 85 career games, Williamson averaged 24.7 points and seven rebounds per game on 60.4% from the field. He’s one of the most dominant paint scorers in the NBA through a seemingly-impossible blend of strength, finesse, explosiveness and touch. It’d be easy for a casual viewer to cast him as a player who relies on athleticism, but where Zion truly sets himself apart is through his sharp timing, creative passing and his unselfish nature as a teammate.
Even without him on the court, New Orleans was a team to be reckoned with. The Pelicans nearly defeated the No. 1 seed Phoenix Suns in the playoffs with emergent defenders, savvy vets and another blossoming star in Brandon Ingram. When all of the puzzle pieces are assembled, there’s no reason the Pelicans can’t dominate.
Whether he has 10 points or 30, Williamson is going to leave his mark on every game he plays. Now, it’s just a matter of staying healthy and growing into his own; everything is in place for him to thrive.