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- New Orleans Pelicans big man Zion Williamson is on the verge of signing a five-year rookie max contract worth $231 million.
- The new contract will keep Zion Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans through 2028 and it’s an insane amount of money for a guy who hasn’t played in 423+ days.
- Shams Charania made the announcement on Twitter and NBA fans were quick to react.
I’ll go on record as saying that heading into the 2019 NBA Draft and even afterward, I was one of the people who boldly claimed Zion Williamson would have a better NBA career than Ja Morant. As things currently stand, I look foolish. Ja Morant was the 2020 Rookie of the Year, made the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, and he’s averaging 28.2 points per game in his career. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson hasn’t played a game in 423 days (since May 4, 2021)…
I’m still very much rooting for Zion Williamson to succeed in the NBA both because I’d like to be proven right about Zion vs. Ja and because I’ve been a fan of his since his first day at Duke. He’s famously been plagued by injuries and has been battling back in recovery.
Kevin Durant famously called Zion Williamson a “once-in-a-generation type athlete” and a college coach referred to him as a “freak of nature” but we haven’t really seen much on the NBA court yet. With all that in mind, the New Orleans Pelicans are betting $231 million on him being the future of the franchise and coming back from surgery fully healthy and better than ever.
Shams Charania Reports $231 Million Contract Extension For Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is nearing a five-year rookie max contract extension worth up to $231 million, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The commitment will take Williamson’s new deal through the 2027-28 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022
Williamson said after the season ended, “I couldn’t sign it fast enough.” Indeed, the All-Star locks in commitment to New Orleans.
The deal is expected to include protections that both sides were sorting through overnight and will finalize, sources said. https://t.co/n0hyRwRk9e
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022
Zion has made $30,126,480 so far in the first 3 years of his NBA career. He’ll now earn more than that almost every season for the next six years…
NBA Fans Are Stunned By Zion’s Massive Contract
Embiid had a similar career his first couple years. His contract extension had a lot of game incentives
— Strive for Tacos (@JustAKidwHoop) July 1, 2022
Zion after receiving a max contract for a few dunk videos recorded on his iPhonepic.twitter.com/lx79biI1Hi
— Pat Benson (@Pat_Benson_Jr) July 1, 2022
It’s been 423 days since he last played and he just got $231 million!!!
Zion played 85 games in three seasons and just signed a $231M contract.
GET THE BAG.
— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) July 1, 2022
Knicks fans would lose their minds.
Zion has to be the first player to get a $200M contract extension who has missed more games in his career than he played.
Imagine the Knicks did this… IMAGINE https://t.co/eEPAsdeVc7
— It’s a Hard Knicks Life Podcast (@HardKnicksLife) July 1, 2022
Real talk, Shams needs a vacation…
shams you working overtime man pic.twitter.com/f1C2ZpeI5v
— real bigga (@thatboy_17) July 1, 2022