After being picked No. 1 overall in 2019 as one of the most hyped prospects of his generation, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has yet to play a full campaign (or even more than 61 games) four seasons into his career, missing substantial time due to injury each year… including the entire 2021-22 season.
In this era of load management, it’s rare for any player to play in a full 82 game schedule, but Williamson’s inability to stay on the court (which isn’t all his fault, to be sure, although his conditioning could play a role in his injuries) seems to be getting old in the eyes of the Pelicans’ leadership. After the 2022-23 season ended in April, New Orleans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin noted that “a big part is on him” as it pertains to the importance of conditioning in preventing injuries.
To make matters worse, Williamson can’t seem to get out of his own way: part of the reason the Pelicans are nearing a breaking point is because of an alleged affair he had with former adult film star Moriah Mills.
Williamson announced in early June that he was expecting a baby daughter with his girlfriend Ahkeema, and a few weeks after that Mills started dropping spicy details of the relationship Williamson allegedly had with her on the side.
Mills claimed she had videos on her phone of the two’s intimate encounters, and threatened to release them to the public if the Pelicans don’t trade him.
New Orleans Pelicans Team Perspective
However, taking a look at the Louisiana online sports betting platforms have become hubs for fans to analyze Williamson’s situation and even place wagers on the potential outcomes. Right now the Pelicans remain the favorites to retain him, with roughly +110 odds of him staying in New Orleans, but that could change quickly as he continues to find himself in ugly situations. Everyone knows that sportsbooks are in the business of making money, and they’ll carefully (and quickly) adjust the odds they list if it looks like a situation will change dramatically.
Earlier in the offseason, it looked like Williamson and the Pelicans were speeding toward an ugly divorce. While the situation has calmed down since the initial news broke, things are still very much up in the air.
Here’s Everything You Need To Know Regarding The Two Sides And What Will Happen Next
When Williamson has been able to stay on the court he’s been as advertised, averaging 25.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 32 minutes per game in his career. If he’s going to live up to the nearly $200 million contract the Pelicans gave him last offseason, though, he’s going to have to prove he can stay on the court—and stay out of hot water off of it.
Williamson’s contract is another point of contention for the embattled star, as it contains a clause that will cost him if he doesn’t keep his body fat percentage and weight below certain levels: that $200 million is far from guaranteed if he can’t stay in shape.
As it pertains to the Mills scandal, 48 of 50 states have laws against revenge pornography, so she could face hefty penalties if she leaks any videos of herself and Williamson: her twitter account was suspended at the end of June, preventing her from using the platform to lash out at him or to publish the alleged videos. Mills also posted pictures of a positive pregnancy test, claiming that Williamson is the father of her alleged future child: another complication that could bring him further embarrassment if true.
The blackmail threats could be taking their toll on Williamson, who posted an Instagram story of a song by The Notorious B.I.G referencing suicide. Here’s hoping he figures things out and is able to move past his embattled past in a healthy manner.
