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New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday said that Zion Williamson will have no limitations heading into the start of training camp prior to the 2020-21 season.
The Pelicans begin camp on Sunday with their two-game preseason schedule set to tip-off on Dec. 14 versus the Miami Heat. Van Gundy will have a better idea of Williamson’s level of conditioning once practices begin but acknowledged that will be true of every player on the roster.
“As for Zion, no one — not Zion, not our medical staff — has mentioned any limitations going into camp,” Van Gundy said. “As far as the conditioning and where it is, it’s not just Zion, it’s everybody on the team. I won’t have any idea on that, really, until Sunday when we get into the first day of team practice and start going up and down the floor a little bit.”
Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said on Monday that the biggest question with Williamson will be his availability this season. Griffin said Williamson flourishes when he can attack and slash, which he was limited on at times last season.
Of course, Williamson played 24 games last season as a rookie, including five during the restart. He looked sluggish at times on the court at the Walt Disney World Resort and even sat during the second game of a back-to-back set.
Williamson, like every player, will need some time in order to get back into shape as most have been limited in training amid the coronavirus pandemic. Teams are beginning to re-open facilities this week and it will prove to be a crucial period as the 2020-21 season approaches.
Van Gundy said that the Pelicans will look to use Williamson at the small forward position on the floor, in addition to the four and five. The team doesn’t want to limit him to one position but to, instead, utilize his unique skill set and ability to make plays on the court.
The organization will certainly look to see if Williamson can stay healthy this season and how effective he can be on a nightly basis. The team has an intriguing young core of players with Williamson, and his health, a key component of that group.
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