Ex-Teammate: Zion Williamson Lacks 'Love' — Pelicans' Dilemma

A former teammate told Marc J. Spears that Zion Williamson’s talent “is so big that it's actually LeBron James-like talent,” but followed with a blunt caveat: “But he doesn't love it like LeBron James.” That skepticism — and the teammate’s answer, “If they asked me, I'd tell them not to” — lands as Zion is listed out “indefinitely” with a Grade 2 right hip adductor strain (at least three weeks) and a long history of missed time. New Orleans is 3-20 and 15th in the West, and the Pelicans’ ability to rebuild via a tank is limited after trading an unprotected 2026 pick. Merlin sees a gilded star dimmed by durability and doubt. Teams prize availability and hunger; elite flashes alone won’t overcome recurring injuries and questions about commitment, so New Orleans is likelier to ride the hope of a comeback than to extract value in a February deal.