NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 03: Zion Williamson # 1 of the New Orleans Pelicans forts against the … [+]
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Zion Williamson will not be entering the NBA Dunk Championship this season. While his involvement would have helped the NBA bring in more spectators, Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the league will be better off waiting until next year for him to play. -enter into the competition. Williamson needs the rest, the Pelicans don’t need to worry, and the NBA can wait to promote Williamson’s first dunk tournament to a sold-out stadium.
Williamson was selected by Kevin Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game Draft. Williamson won his first NBA All-Star roster spot by appearing in the Pelicans ’first 35 games in his second season. Williamson averaged 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in about 33 minutes per game. He has helped keep the New Orleans Pelicans within reach of playoff playoffs throughout the first half of the season by playing all but the last game. Williamson remained on the bench with a toe-blowing case as the Pelicans lost to the Chicago Bulls on national television. A year after a season shortened by injury, Williamson doesn’t need extra responsibilities for his first NBA All-Star game.
The prospects for Williamson are astounding even though they can only be seen from an entertainment standpoint. The dunk tournament will tax the participants and this would be especially true for a dunker as strong, powerful as Williamson. There are no gimmicks; his strength and grace always translate. His forts are always televised but his first NBA Dunk Contest debut should happen with a full house. These closures would still get a television rating and ticket prices would go far beyond face value.
The 2021 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta will not be a full house. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has famously even released a statement to encourage larger gatherings in Atlanta that warned, “There will be no NBA action [for fans] take part in. We really appreciate their support and hope they see our All-Star Game on television … this is a television-only event in Atlanta. “
Williamson waiting until next season to take part in the dunk tournament is a relief for the New Orleans Pelicans and will be more fun for the fans. Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy admitted of Williamson’s toe injury, “I don’t know to be honest, deep. I know he was hurt. I know he’s had it for a while. I know it was getting worse and I know it couldn’t go tonight. That is what I know. As long as it was close to playing or anything else, I have no idea. ”
The Pelicans have an idea of where this team could join a healthy Williamson. They also know where to end the season if Williamson is taken to the bench for any length of time. With those results in mind, the New Orleans Pelicans support Williamson’s decision to pursue a season-regular preseason as well as more NBA All-Star show participation.