Redskin

Pelicans media day: Zion Williamson, New Orleans preparing for new level of expectations



Zion Williamson’s summer was filled with a range of emotions as he worked his way back from a fractured foot that’s sidelined him for over a year. As he dealt with some of the mental hurdles that come with this process, one album truly tapped into how he felt at this crossroad in his career.

“The Notorious B.I.G. album. Ready to Die,” Williamson said at Pelicans media day on Monday. “That album lyrically – how he talked about stress, what he was dealing with, just feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders and you feel like you’re standing alone. That album really helped kind of shift my mindset and just find a true resolve within the game.”

This classic album begins with a song called “Things Done Changed,” where Biggie speaks on the difficulty of learning how to adapt as the world changes around him and becomes colder. That’s a fitting description of where Williamson and the Pelicans are heading into the 2022-23 season.

Last season, life was much easier for this group. With Williamson out of the lineup, very few people thought they could be competitive in the Western Conference. Just getting into the Play-In Tournament as a No. 10 seed was a monumental accomplishment, considering how much they had to overcome. 

They’re about to enter a whole new world this season. 

Expectations are through the roof in New Orleans with Williamson coming back to play with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and a roster filled with young talent. Sneaking into the playoffs is no longer an option. If they don’t produce one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, many within the fan base will consider this season a failure.

Considering how bleak the outlook was on media day a year ago, the franchise has come a long way. But that doesn’t make the spotlight they’ll be under any easier to handle.





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