Zion Williamson may no longer see his future with the New Orleans Pelicans—at least, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
During Monday’s episode of First Take, Smith boldly claimed that the star forward is ready to leave New Orleans for a bigger market.
“Zion doesn’t want to be in New Orleans,” Smith said. “He wants to be in a major market like L.A. or New York because he wants the marketability.”
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Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas also weighed in on Williamson’s strained relationship with the Pelicans, particularly following a recent suspension for being late to team activities. Arenas criticized the organization’s decision to fine Williamson heavily, saying on his Gil’s Arena podcast, “Being late to a plane doesn’t cost a game check. That’s already a penalty fine, not a $300,000 hit. If you’re doing that, the relationship is officially over.”
The 2024-25 season has been a challenging one for Williamson, whose injuries have limited him to just eight games. In that span, he has averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
After accepting the suspension, Williamson publicly took responsibility for his actions.
“I’ve worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy and deliver for this team,” he said in a statement. “There is no excuse for being late to team activities. I have apologized to Mrs. Benson, 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.”
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The two-time All-Star missed Friday’s game against the 76ers but has since returned to the court, including in Tuesday night’s matchup against the Bulls. Whether Williamson’s future remains in New Orleans or shifts to a bigger market remains to be seen.
