Seemingly overnight, many have become self-proclaimed experts as to what’s going on with Zion Williamson. As soon as CJ McCollum said he had not heard from Zion since getting traded, many so-called “experts,” led by JJ Redick, railed Williamson in the media for yet another off-the-court issue.
Unfortunately, there’s something these Millenials may have missed about their younger teammate.
Gen Z-ers get a bad rap. A generation riddled with more anxiety and depression than any other before, it has direct access to more ways of screwing one’s life up served on a platter. The NBA media will shine a bright light on those few who can navigate such obstacles, and deservedly so. However, there will be many more that don’t reach their full potential as a result of their own era.
As we take a deep dive, you’ll find that no one from Gen-Z has suffered more under the brightest of lights than Zion Williamson.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Entering the league with lofty comparisons to greats like Charles Barkley and LeBron James, fans expected Zion Williamson to put on a show in his first season. Until he tore his meniscus and missed the first 44 games of the season. This was already his third major injury at the college or professional level.
Many, including myself, became enamored with Zion as soon we saw his crazy highlights and his physical gifts. With the Instagrammification of athletes in the 21st century, it’s easy to forget that Zion was just 19 years old at the time. YouTube videos dissecting his body language or projecting how injury-prone his unique build could become a cottage industry. He ended up playing only 24 games his rookie year.
.@jj_redick is concerned with how "detached" Zion Williamson has been from the team.
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 22, 2022
"This is a pattern of behavior that we are seeing again and again with Zion." pic.twitter.com/EmE6BeBvjv
Zion’s sophomore campaign was a massive improvement. The then 20-year-old tallied 61 games! Where were the pieces about Zion’s never-before-seen stretch of health? Was anyone talking about how hard it is for a 284-pound man to play NBA basketball on a nightly basis? Of course not. Instead, Zion’s family stole the show, with family members insisting that Zion was not happy with the New Orleans Pelicans’ front office.
Whether or not these were Zion’s true feelings, what could be gained by going public with such information? He’s under contract until 2023 and will be eligible for a massive extension with New Orleans afterward. It’s no wonder he looked dejected on the court all of the time, the man wasn’t allowed to enjoy basketball for even a second of his career!
Weight, There’s More!
Zion couldn’t stay healthy, and it was becoming a problem for New Orleans. However, it wasn’t his only problem.
Media members who adored him now write scathing pieces, his family who once protected him now spreading rumors in the name of cheap publicity, and to top it all off a fractured right foot keeping him out of what will end up being the bulk of his third season.
When he did get onto the court, Zion was dominant. His biggest obstacle became his health, specifically the health of his legs carrying a particularly large frame that had helped him dominate up to this point.
With his season likely already over, Zion’s management chose to have him rehab away from the team.
Tucked away from his team in Portland, Oregon, those who cared most about Zion’s future could not have seemed farther away. And for Zion, this severe isolation led to another major problem: weight gain.
Viral photos and a notorious Mountain Dew commercial all but damned Zion to online Twitter trolls, clamoring to poke fun at their new target. Injuries, family issues, massive expectations, and now fat-shaming? Reportedly tipping the scales at 330 pounds, more than Zion’s body was weighing him down. Outward signs currently point to Zion spiraling into a pit of depression and anxiety; the authentic Gen-Z experience.
Zion Williamson, JJ Redick, and CJ McCollum
If a human being is dealing with anxiety or depression, is it easy for them to be present in day-to-day activities? If one finds themselves distanced from their inner circle, is it easy for them to be present for others?
So when Zion was slow to reach out to new teammate CJ McCollum after he joined the team, was it really him being a detached, bad teammate or could he have been dealing with bigger issues? Here’s an example:
Have you ever been to a supermarket and you see someone that you kind of know, but not enough to carry a real conversation? Most people, myself included, would not go up and say “hey” to that person. Instead, you’d go about your business trying your hardest to pretend not to notice the said person, them doing the same until you slowly realize that you both are conscious of the other’s presence. Even still, chances are low that greetings are exchanged.
Zion doesn’t know what’s being said about him in New Orleans because he’s not in New Orleans. He doesn’t know what McCollum has heard since joining the team and probably felt embarrassed about the situation initially.
A 21-year-old feeling awkward in a situation that requires social skills? Incredible!
So when JJ Redick went on national television and called Zion a “detached teammate,” did he truly know the situation into which he inserted himself? It’s possible, but someone as close as a teammate and friend would not necessarily know what’s going on in Zion’s head. Especially if there’s a 16-year age gap between them.
Zion eventually did reach out as any good teammate should. Predictably, the move did not change the course of the NBA media. Perhaps now fans will start to understand what media criticism can do to one’s psyche.
