(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson entered the NBA in 2019 with as much fanfare as any player in recent memory, and all signs pointed toward superstar status for the then-19-year-old.
While his career average of 24.7 points per game is good, and he emerged as a fan favorite, one significant issue held him back from the upper echelon of the league.
Injuries.
Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 campaign with a foot injury and has yet to play more than 70 games since entering the NBA.
But the young star now appears healthy, and his new appearance recently went viral as his offseason preparations continued.
Courtside Buzz displayed images of the Pelicans star sporting a beard and asked fans how they felt about the new look.
Zion Williamson out here rocking the beard this offseason!
Thoughts on the new look? pic.twitter.com/noYSCWXDlm
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) June 24, 2024
Now 23, the Pelican power forward may intend to come across the fans and opponents alike as a grizzled veteran, and why not?
After all, if Williamson is truly healthy, the Pelicans will have a major star in the lineup.
In his 70-game campaign in the just-concluded season, Williamson answered many questions about his ability to remain healthy and play at the weight coaches envision him to carry.
This translated into a hot New Orleans team that improved to 49 victories in 2022-23, seven more than the previous season and a full 19 better than Williamson’s rookie outing.
The Pelicans ran into a buzzsaw in the playoffs when they were swept out by Oklahoma City, but the franchise’s future is very bright.
And if sporting a new beard means that Williamson is healthy and performing to his full capability, fans will have much to celebrate.
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