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New Orleans Pelicans Star Zayn Williamson last week agreed to a maximum contract extension with one goal in mind – proving he can overcome all obstacles in his path and win.
Williamson, one of the most talked about youth basketball players who in recent memory agreed to drop out of college deal worth about $193 millionHe addressed his decision to sign the extension at a news conference on Wednesday.
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson with New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Greene, New Orleans Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin to speak to the media about signing his contract extension at the Dryads YMCA in New Orleans on Wednesday Shake hands. The latter stand in the background. , July 6, 2022.
(Max Becherer/The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate via AP)
“The last few months were a roller-coaster of emotions. The world just ran with imagination, and so when my family was going out in public, they were being harassed by people about why we don’t like New Orleans or why we don’t want to be here when it’s not like that at all. is,” he said.
“I wasn’t able to play because I broke my leg. Whenever I check my phone it’s always something negative. Even when you were trying to make the situation positive, just . It was very difficult too.”
1 overall pick of the 2019 draft, was about to turn to the Pelicans to change the outfit for the better. However, injuries quickly interrupted his career. He said he wanted to prove he was a “winner” and wanted to do the same to his teammates in New Orleans.
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FILE – New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson watches a shoot-around before Game 6 of the team’s NBA basketball first round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns on April 29, 2022 in New Orleans.
(AP photo/Gerald Herbert, file)
“I want to prove that I am the winner. That’s it. I want to win with the coach. I want to win with my teammates. The ultimate goal is to win the championship,” he said. “I feel like all of us. That’s what it’s trying to do. to like [Pelicans GM David Griffin] Said we are hungry. You see what the team did last year. I’m excited to add it.”
He thanked the Pelicans organization for sticking with him and believing in him.
“Thank you all for really sticking with me last year. It was a tough year, and then for gifting the Pelicans this birthday, I’m not going to let them down. Downtown Downtown I let my family down.” I’m not going to, and above all, I’m not going to let myself down.
Williamson has played only 85 matches in three seasons, but while he was in good health, he proved what he could bring to the table. He was an All-Star in his second season averaging 27 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
feel healthy, Williamson could be a huge Factors in the further development of young pelicans.
Joan Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans hits the ball down the court during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at the Smoothie King Center on May 04, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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New Orleans made the playoffs after finishing eighth in the play-in tournament. Although the team lost to the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans took two games from them. When Williamson is included in a team with CJ McCallum, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valencianas and Herb Jones, the team can compete for anything higher than the sixth seed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.