Zion Williamson appeared excited about his future with the New Orleans Pelicans in the end-of-season media session on Friday. Following the end of the series vs Suns, the Pelicans are looking to a future with Zion around the team.
His response was imminent when he talked about working on a potential extension with the franchise this summer. Williamson will be eligible for one this offseason as the Pelicans are hoping to see him in the court more next year.
“Of course,” Williamson said. “I couldn’t sign it fast enough.”
The Pelicans’ impressive second-half performance and tough playoff battle with the NBA-best Suns will strengthen their case when they enter negotiations with Williamson this summer.
New Orleans changed its fortune by trading for CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. in the February deadline. Then, the franchise witnessed the meteoric rise of Brandon Ingram in the playoff series vs the top-seeded Suns.
Talking about this season Zion admitted “it has been a rough year” for him, but he is in “a great space now”. He also praised the locker room atmosphere calling the team “more together” than other years.
Williamson was the best player in the Pelicans’ roster last season becoming fast an All-Star player. However, that was not enough for the team to make the postseason.
The story changed this year with the addition of more veteran leadership in Valanciunas and McCollum. Williamson also addressed the rumors that were surfaced all season long that he was unhappy in New Orleans.
“I can’t control rumors and how people feel about certain things,” Williamson said of speculation of him being disgruntled in New Orleans. “Anybody that knows me know that I want to be here. If they feel otherwise, I can’t help that.”
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