The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Friday night that they have suspended forward Zion Williamson for one game for what Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin says is a “violation of team policies.”
In its initial statement, the team did not specify what policies were violated by Williamson, but said the player will miss tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers and will rejoin the team tomorrow.
Williamson subsequently released a statement that indicated he was “late to team activities.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Williamson “was late for Thursday’s team flight to Philadelphia.”
Zion Responds
In a statement, Williamson said:
“I take full responsibility for this suspension. I’ve worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy to deliver for this team. There is no excuse for being late to team activities. I have apologized to Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I also owe an apology to the fans. I can and will be better as a teammate and member of this organization.”
On the Trade Block?
Williamson, selected by the Pelicans as the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has had a rocket tenure with the team, falling short of the great expectations set for him even before he put on an NBA uniform.
He did not play the entire 2021-22 season due to injuries and averaged 35 games a season in his first five years — two of which featured a shortened schedule due to the COVID pandemic.
Williamson has only played seven games this season, though he is averaging 22.6 points and 5.1 assists.
The 7-31 Pelicans are the NBA’s second-worst team. Speculation is growing that the team could trade him to the Golden State Warriors or another team looking for a boost before a playoff run.
Globely News covers the game changers transforming the worlds of business, sports, politics, and technology. From AI and electric vehicles to the rise of China and the NFL's next stars, we've got you covered.