Following Tuesday's 119-113 win in Chicago, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson somewhat randomly called Brooklyn one of the more underappreciated NBA destinations.
"Brooklyn is a low-key one I don't think people appreciate enough," Williamson said.
While noting the unique aspects of different areas after being asked his favorite places to play across the league, Williamson was more than willing to express a particular affinity for Brooklyn's atmosphere.
"I love New York music -- Jay, B.I.G," Williamson added. "When they play that music in [Brooklyn], you just feel the aura, the ambiance in there."
He made sure to note New Orleans is by far his favorite place to play, of course, although conveniently as his relationship with the franchise has been put back under the spotlight.
"New York, Brooklyn is a low key one I dont think people appreciate enough, Boston, Chicago... I like Atlanta... There are a lot of dope arenas that all have their thing... New Orleans is clearly, by far, my favorite arena to play in"
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) January 15, 2025
-- Zion Williamson on his favorite arenas pic.twitter.com/G5NChwqfhB
Last week, New Orleans suspended its franchise star for one game due to his violation of team policies after arriving late for a team flight to Philadelphia. Williamson, repeatedly a topic of issue in the Crescent City since his rookie season, has often either been late or disengaged during team obligations, if not injured and leaving constant room for concern regarding his discipline off the court. On the Jan. 13 episode of ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. Smith claimed Williamson no longer wants to be in New Orleans and would prefer the advantages of a major market instead.
This isn't exactly an uncommon narrative to hear regarding a superstar player in New Orleans, and Brooklyn might just check the most boxes.
"Zion doesn't want to be in New Orleans," Smith said. "He doesn't want to be there. He wants to be in a major market like LA, New York or whatever because he wants the marketability."
Financial flexibility and draft capital wouldn't be an issue for the Nets in terms of getting a Williamson deal done. The question is if a mere change of scenery would be enough to get his career trajectory back closer to those generational, pre-draft expectations of a once viral sensation, also if that would have any positive impact on his long-term availability (given questionable medical situations inside both of New Orleans' professional sports teams).
Maybe it's not the most likely or promising scenario for those in Nets World, but buying low on Williamson would still be a viable option for general manager Sean Marks if New Orleans made him available. It's doubtful Brooklyn, or any team at this point, would hang its hat on the 24-year-old talent next to serious title aspirations, thus a trade would have to leave significant assets relatively uncompromised in search for a new franchise cornerstone.
Williamson, a two-time NBA All-Star selection, has averaged 24.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists through 193 appearances with the Pelicans. Only during the 2020-21 and 2023-34 campaigns has he reached 30 games played, tallying nine starts this season to date with projections at an all-time low for the incomparable (and wildly inconsistent) athletic phenomenon.