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No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson has a basketball hoop at his home in New Orleans so it shouldn’t be a surprise then to hear that the Pelicans rookie is physically ready to play at a moment’s notice.
Williamson told Ernie Johnson of Turner Sports on Monday that he has mostly stayed inside his house since the coronavirus has greatly impacted the city of New Orleans. The area has been so badly affected that Governor John Bel Edwards extended the stay-at-home order on Monday in Louisiana until May 15.
Despite remaining in quarantine, Williamson has stayed ready should the NBA season return. While an official decision has yet to be made on resuming the season, the NBA announced on Monday that teams in areas with eased stay-at-home orders can open practice facilities no sooner than May 8, perhaps signaling the first step in returning to play.
“Honestly, I’m ready now. I’ve been staying in shape, working on myself and just staying ready,” Williamson said. “You never know when that time is going to come when they say, ‘Alright. Let’s resume.’ I don’t want to have to look around at my teammates like, ‘I’m sorry, guys. I’m just not ready.’ I’m staying ready for my teammates.”
#NBATogether with Ernie Johnson (@TurnerSportsEJ) begins now with No. 1 overall pick @Zionwilliamson. https://t.co/C03FCETeVK
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2020
Prior to the season suspension, Williamson had been playing very well.
In 19 games played, Williamson averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists with the Pelicans. He set the NBA record for a teenager for the most consecutive games (13) scoring at least 20 points, topping the previous mark held by Carmelo Anthony.
Williamson sees the stoppage of play as twofold.
“It sucks because I just came back after sitting out 3-4 months without playing basketball and playing in an NBA game,” Williamson said. “As soon as I feel like I’m getting going, this happens. It sucks from that perspective but from a being smart perspective, I think it’s a good thing. It gives me extra time to work on my knee and just work on my body overall.”
Williamson showed no lingering effects of his knee surgery when he debuted in January so it sounds as though the rookie will be ready to hit the ground running once that time comes to play again.
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