The Pelicans are gonna be without Zion Williamson yet again tonight, this time because of a stomach illness. That means he’s now missed 35 games this season, and yeah—fans are frustrated. Injuries have been an issue his whole career, but this one? This one feels different. There’s some real tension brewing between Zion and the Pelicans, and at this point, people are starting to wonder if he’s even gonna be around long-term.

Let’s be real—Zion not being on the court has been the main story of his career. This season’s no exception. Earlier this year, a left hamstring injury kept him out for 27 straight games, and he didn’t come back until January 7, 2025. Since then? The team’s been extra cautious, putting him on strict load management and not letting him play back-to-backs—which, by the way, he’s not happy about.

Even Zion himself is over it. He straight-up said:
“Let me make this clear to everybody out there. If I could play in the back-to-backs, I would. Physically? Yes, I can. But I work for the Pelicans. They have decided that, based off the numbers, it’s not smart to do that right now. If that’s what they feel, I’m rocking with them on that.”

So basically, he’s letting everyone know this isn’t his call—it’s the team’s. But fans aren’t buying it. A lot of them are questioning if this whole load management thing is even helping, especially when other guys across the league are still getting injured despite similar restrictions.

Zion Williamson Throwing the Franchise Under the Bus?

Zion’s comments definitely raised some eyebrows because, let’s be honest, he kinda put the blame on the team instead of taking any responsibility for his availability issues. And look, his frustration makes sense—but publicly calling out the team’s medical and coaching staff? Not a great look. Especially when you add in his injury history and some of the drama this season.

Speaking of drama, this isn’t just about injuries. Zion’s had off-court issues too. Earlier in January, he got suspended for being late to a team flight. That’s usually just a fine, but the Pelicans actually suspended him. That move caught the league’s attention, and even Stephen A. Smith had something to say about it:

“Zion doesn’t want to be in New Orleans. He doesn’t want to be there. He wants to be in a major market like L.A., New York, or whatever because he wants the marketability.”

And he’s not the only one thinking that. Gilbert Arenas also called out the team for how they handled the situation, saying:

“When you are suspending him after you already fined him, that’s two penalties for the same thing. Like being late to a plane doesn’t cost a game check. That’s already a penalty fine, that’s not a game check. So that means your relationship with him is officially over.”

Meanwhile, the Pelicans are struggling—badly. The Pelicans currently hold the 12th seed position in the Western Conference with a 12-36 record thus providing valid reasoning for Zion to pursue a trade if he wants out. The franchise has failed to demonstrate successful models of operation.

The Pelicans have reason to worry because their star player proves his dominant form as soon as he hits the court. His performance averages 21.8 points and 7.6 rebounds combined with 4.9 assists per game which shows his potential to become an elite superstar. The team’s constant restrictions on his playing time make it difficult for anyone to take a positive approach toward the team’s prospects.

So now the big question is: Is this just another rough patch in Zion’s time with the Pelicans, or is this the beginning of the end?

The rumors about him wanting out aren’t going away, and the Pelicans aren’t exactly showing signs of progress. Sooner or later, something’s gotta give—and when it does, it might just mean Zion’s time in New Orleans is coming to a close.