“The game gonna stay the game, just different players.” This is how Zion Williamson looks at the NBA, as he recalled it from the TV series The Wire. Yes, no one is bigger than the game. At the same time, the players go through a serious wave of emotions, sometimes major setbacks, regarding the contracts, trades, and business aspects tied to the sport. Speaking of the mental anguish that an athlete might go through, the Pelicans star dropped a lighthearted comment about Adrian Wojnarowski’s retirement and his ‘Woj bombs’.

Last month, the renowned NBA Insider dropped the final Woj bomb, announcing his retirement from sports media. Importantly, the 55-year-old picked up a role of the General Manager of the basketball program at St. Bonaventure University, his alma mater. In his departing message to the hoops community, Woj clearly said, “It’s an investment that I’m no longer driven to make.” It indeed left a huge void in the NBA world, even though Shams Charania is already gearing up to fill the spot.

Amid this somber mood community, Zion Williamson, from a player’s perspective, looked at the brighter side. By now, y’all might’ve guessed the confession. Anyway, let’s get to it. In an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Zion spoke about feeling comfortable in a roster, stressing on the trade and contract situation. Organically, he dragged Woj into it, adding, “I don’t have to worry about waking up and seeing. You know, he retired, seeing Woj tweet I got traded somewhere,” leaving the rest of the room to crack up.

“I mean, we laugh about it. These are real things,” Zion Williamson added how these situations can personally affect a player. He continued, “Y’all know what that feels like. You pick your phone up and see a tweet that says you being traded somewhere… If you got a family in the town, you just pick everything up and go to the next city. So, for a lot of people, it’s just a human factor.” On the other hand, how does all of this affect oneself professionally? Let’s find out.

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you agree with Zion Williamson that player trades can be emotionally taxing?

Absolutely, it's a tough reality

No, it's part of the game

Depends on the player

Not sure

Do you think LeBron and Savannah James made the right decision by initially transferring Bryce to different schools?

Yes, they were looking out for his best interests

No, they should have trusted Bryce's instincts

Maybe, but it ultimately worked out

Parents should let kids make their own choices

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How do you feel about Bryce James' decision to stick with Sierra Canyon despite the challenges?

It shows true loyalty and character

He should have sought better opportunities

It's a risky move that paid off

He was right to follow his heart

Do you think LeBron James deserves his current sixth place in the MVP straw poll?

Yes, his performance merits it

No, his recent slump should have dropped him lower

He should be higher, given his impact

MVP rankings are too media-driven to be accurate

With LeBron's recent struggles, should the Lakers consider a new team strategy?

Yes, focus on younger talent

No, LeBron is still the key player

Mix of both, balance experience and youth

Wait until LeBron fully recovers from injury

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Zion Williamson stresses on importance of feeling comfortable on the roster

The superstars have control over their spot on the team. For instance, LeBron James and Stephen Curry can decide where and why they want to play because of their stature and popularity. It’s also the same case for many other younger stars as well, but not always.

Especially in the most recent case of Karl-Anthony Towns, the big man got traded out of the Wolves, after spending 9 years, without any heads up. The trade certainly left KAT and the entire community stunned.

If this situation is possible for an All-Star, imagine the scene with other hoopers. Some may take it as a challenge and try to cement their position, at the same time, it might affect their performances as well.

Speaking of which, Zion Williamson explained, “We’re human here. Whether contracts, trade deadlines, or anything. We hear it. We see it going on. I think once everybody on the team gets to that comfortable spot where they know, they’re on the team.”

At the same time, the league also offers a resting period for the players within the season, where they breathe a sigh of relief. Zion Williamson continued, “For a lot of teams, it’s after the trade deadline. No more moves gonna be made. That’s just a reality of it.” Nevertheless, it’s just the nature of the league and the business side involved in it. What do you make of Zion’s views?

Can you remember any of your favorite players suddenly being yanked out of the franchise they called ‘home’ for years? Let us know.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.