Zion Williamson says he wants to play back-to-backs, several minutes but pelicans call

Zion Willaimson has played in 13 games this season. Since returning from a hamstring injury, he has played in 7 out of 11 games, and in his last five games he is an average of 26.6 points of 61.5% shooting, nine rebounds and 5.2 assists. He also plays improved defense.

He has done all that on a minute’s limit and kept him under 26 minutes at night. He also doesn’t play in back-to-backs. Zion wants the world to know that it is not his idea, it is the team that prevents him from playing more. Here’s his quote, Via Rod Walker from Times-Picayune.

“Let me make this clear to everyone out there,” Williamson said. “If I can play in back-to-backs I would. Physically, yes I can. But I work for the Pelicans. They have decided it is based on the numbers, it’s not smart to do it right now. So If that is what they feel I am swinging with them on it.

It’s good that he wants to play (and I have no doubt that he is sincere), but given his injury history, do you owe the pelicans? Sometimes you have to protect players from themselves. Especially with New Orleans 12-36 of the season, sitting 14 in the west and heading towards the lottery. There is no need to push him hard this season (and look for Brandon Ingram and others to be shopped at the deadline as New Orleans ensures that it comes under the luxury tax (it is currently $ 2 million future years.

They need a healthy zion for it. Hopefully he can play the rest of this season, but there is zero reason to push him physically right now. Whatever he wants.