Pelicans poised to unleash Zion Williamson on NBA, free from minutes restriction and extra weight

Billy Heyen

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Pelicans poised to unleash Zion Williamson on NBA, free from minutes restriction and extra weight image

It's hard to look at Zion Williamson's rookie numbers and think he was held back, but he was. The Pelicans monitored Williamson's minutes all year, and the weight concerns that many had about Williamson at the draft popped up at times, especially in the NBA's bubble.

There's good news, though: Neither of those things will be hold Williamson back in his second NBA season. The former Duke star reportedly lost significant weight in the offseason, and he's said himself that there are "no restrictions" on his usage in 2020-21 under New Orleans' new coach, Stan Van Gundy. For NBA fans, that just means more of the excitement that Williamson brings each time he runs up and down the floor.

Even as a rookie, it was obvious the jump to the NBA wasn't too much for Williamson. He averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 27.8 minutes per contest, all while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. Williamson brings a rare blend of power and athleticism combined with finesse and touch. In Year 2, it should show up even more.

Does Zion Williamson have a minutes restriction?

The Pelicans won't limit Williamson's minutes during the 2020-21 season. 

"Me and coach Van Gundy have talked and from what I know now, there are no restrictions. None," Williamson said, according to ESPN.

Williamson was sidelined for the first portion of his rookie season with a knee injury. When he returned, the Pelicans had him on what they termed "burst restrictions," which essentially capped Williamson's minutes for each game and for each stint he was on the floor. It was obvious Williamson didn't love the arrangement, and it led to odd occasions where the Pelicans were in a close game but Williamson was on the bench because he was out of minutes that night.

Unlike last season, Williamson enters this year healthy, and the Pelicans are ready to unleash their rising star. Teaming with Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, a restriction-free Williamson will help form a youthful big three that should only get better from here.

"I love to play basketball," Williamson said. "With no restrictions? Why wouldn't I love that?"

Has Zion Williamson lost weight?

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Williamson lost as much as 25 pounds in the time since he left the bubble until now. What's less clear is where that puts Williamson now.

Williamson entered his rookie season listed at 280 pounds. That's part of what raised concerns even higher when it came to monitoring his knee injury during his rookie year. LeBron James, who's listed as two inches taller than Williamson, has played most of his NBA career in the 250-260 pound range.

If Williamson was indeed 280 pounds or above in the bubble, getting down toward 260 with his offseason weight loss could bode well for his health and conditioning moving forward. His weight didn't seem to hold him back on the court at Duke or as a rookie in the NBA, but a thinner Williamson could display slightly increased quickness without losing much of his signature power.

For whatever it's worth, Williamson has looked trimmed down in photos comparing last season to this season, especially photos of Williamson from the bubble.

Williamson has spoken on the weight concerns surrounding him before, saying, "Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I’m just going to stick to the opinions of the people closest to me and my team, and just go from there."

But if Williamson has indeed lost weight and it leads to more dominant play, it'll likely improve everyone's opinion of him as a rising star on the basketball court. 

Billy Heyen