Between a truncated schedule, planned rest, health-and-safety-related absences and several postponements, the 2020-21 NBA season is more resistant to evaluation than any in memory...
Zion Williamson's Marketing Contract with Agent Gina Ford Voided by Judge
Jan 20, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots a free throw during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday Jan. 17, 2021. The Pelicans won 128-123.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
U.S. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs ruled in Zion Williamson's favor in legal issues regarding his previous marketing agreement with Gina Ford and Prime Sports Marketing.
On Wednesday, Mark Schlabach of ESPN reported that Biggs voided the New Orleans Pelicans star's marketing agreement in a partial ruling in the case. The ruling suggested the agreement did not meet the requirements of North Carolina's Uniform Athlete Agent Act.
Williamson sued Ford and Prime Sports in June 2019 in an effort to get out of the agreement, while Ford and Prime Sports Marketing then sued Williamson, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and two of its employees.
The suit from Ford and Prime Sports Marketing alleged that CAA and Williamson breached the five-year contract they had in place with the Duke star.
Ford also said Williamson wasn't eligible under NCAA rules during his time with the Blue Devils because his family accepted improper benefits, but Biggs denied that motion as well.
Schlabach broke down the reasons for the ruling:
"Specifically, Biggs ruled that Williamson was a student-athlete at Duke at the time he signed the marketing agreement with Ford's company; he had not been declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA; Ford was not a certified agent in North Carolina; the agreement did not include the required warnings under the law; and Williamson and his family communicated to Ford that they were terminating and voiding the contract."
Williamson's attorneys released a statement as well:
New Orleans selected Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft after he played one season at Duke.
He is averaging 23.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game this season and appears well on his way to being a franchise cornerstone for years to come.
Donovan Mitchell Electric as Jazz Beat Zion Williamson, Pelicans
Jan 19, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) passes the ball as New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Western Conference is loaded, but the Utah Jazz appear to be rounding into form as legitimate contenders.
Utah defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-102 in Tuesday's matchup at Vivint Smart Home Arena and extended its winning streak to six. Donovan Mitchellled a balanced effort for the victors, who are now 10-4 on the season.
New Orleans is trending in the opposite direction and fell to 5-8 overall and 1-6 in its last seven despite an impressive showing from Zion Williamson.
Donovan Mitchell Spearheads Dominant Jazz Performance
It's no coincidence Utah entered Tuesday's game playing its best basketball of the season. The winning streak coincides directly with Mitchell establishing a rhythm as the team's go-to scorer.
After failing to score more than 23 points in each of his first six games, he scored 26 or more points in five of the next seven and in four of the previous five wins.
The Louisville product wasted no time setting the tone Tuesday, hitting multiple shots from deep and slashing through the defense on his way to 15 first-quarter points. Mitchell was dialed in while aggressively hunting his shot, which has largely been the case during Utah's recent surge.
He also mixed in a head-turning wraparound pass to Bojan Bogdanovic for a triple to give Utah a six-point halftime advantage.
It continued in the second half, as Mitchell found Bogdanovic for another three with a second wraparound pass, hit his own deep three-pointer and put on an offensive clinic as the Jazz built a commanding lead.
It wasn't all Mitchell, as backcourt mate Mike Conley drew in the defense and created open looks for his teammates, Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles provided a spark off the bench, and Rudy Gobert notched a double-double while finishing at the rim and controlling the boards.
Frankly, it was more of the same for a team that could ultimately be a threat to the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers and other contenders. It has a star in place in Mitchell, an unselfish point guard in Conley who is always looking to set others up, a frontcourt anchor in Gobert, shooters on the wing and depth on the bench.
Zion's Strong Offensive Performance Goes to Waste
The Pelicans may not make the playoffs, but the future is bright if the start of this season is any indication.
Williamson looks every bit the part of the franchise cornerstone they were looking for when they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, especially as of late. He averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in New Orleans' first six January games and showed no hesitation going right at Utah's frontcourt Tuesday.
Not even Gobert—who did block one of his attempts at the rim—or Derrick Favors gave him pause in the early going, as the Duke product made his first five shots and powered his way to the basket while putting up 14 points in the first half.
He and Brandon Ingram were the primary reason the Pelicans were still within striking distance following Mitchell's hot start, but the game started to slip away without enough secondary contributions.
No other Pelican scored more than nineoutside of those two, and the game was all but over by the fourth quarter.
New Orleans has a star to build around in Williamson, but it didn't have anywhere close to enough difference-makers to keep up with the Jazz on Tuesday.
What's Next?
These two teams play again in Utah on Thursday.
Karl Malone: Zion Williamson Won't Reach Potential If He Doesn't Get in Shape
Jan 19, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) against the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Basketball Hall of Famer Karl Malone discussed New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson on The Players' Tribune's Knuckleheads podcast with ex-NBA players Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson on Tuesday.
"I love Zion Williamson," Malone said. "Zion needs to get into shape. If he don't get in shape, we might not ever know his full potential."
The power forward, who played at 6'9" and 250 pounds, referenced comments ex-NBA player Glen "Big Baby" Davis made to TMZ Sports in November 2019 noting that Williamson needed to lose weight before continuing. The 6'9" Davis played at 289 pounds; Williamson is listed at 6'7" and 284 pounds.
"I'm still waiting on him to play the whole damn season. News flash: We still waiting," Malone said.
"And he needs to be averaging 40 minutes a game. Look here, you're a 21-, 22-year-old kid—your ass shouldn't get tired."
Malone, who lives in Louisiana, also offered to work one-on-one with the 20-year-old for free.
Williamson is a year removed from missing three months because of a torn right lateral meniscus, which required surgery in October 2019.
In addition, he and the rest of the NBA are adjusting to an unusual NBA schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That schedule includes a shortened offseason for most teams, including the Pels, who had just four months of rest between seasons (as opposed to five or six like usual).
Ultimately, Williamson is still getting used to the rigors of the NBA, having played just 35 career games thus far—or less than the equivalent of half a regular season.
Williamson entered Tuesday averaging 22.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 32.4 minutes per game. His usage rate of 28.8 ranks 23rd in the league among qualified players, per Basketball Reference.
Believe it or not, the 2020-21 NBA season is nearing its quarter-pole. How did we get here? Who knows. It's a blur. It has involved a lot of postponements, plenty of blowouts, exactly one James Harden trade and a slew of surprises, both good and bad..
LeBron James Flirts with Triple-Double as Lakers Cruise Past Zion, Pelicans
Jan 16, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against New Orleans Pelicans forward Nicolo Melli, center, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Los Angeles Lakers used a 15-0 third-quarter run to win their fifth straight game and defeat the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 112-95 on Friday at Staples Center.
L.A. trailed 70-67 with 6:40 left in the third quarter after a Brandon Ingram three-pointer, but the Lakers responded with 15 straight to earn a 82-70 edge. Five different Lakers contributed during the run, including LeBron James, who capped the stretch with a putback dunk:
New Orleans cut the Laker lead to four early in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers went on a 12-0 run in response to seal the win.
James was two rebounds shy of a triple-double with 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds to lead six Lakers in double figures in scoring. Zion Williamson paced the Pels with 21 points, and Brandon Ingram had 20.
The 11-3 Lakers maintained their Western Conference lead. New Orleans has lost five straight.
The 4-7 Pels welcomed back Williamson, who missed his team's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday because ofhealth and safety protocols. New Orleans still missed point guard Lonzo Ball, who has been out for two games with knee tendonitis.
Notable Performances
Pelicans PF Zion Williamson: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists
L.A. also played tremendous defense in holding the Pels to 37 second-half points.
Seven Lakers scored nine or more points in the balanced offensive attack. On defense, the Lakers forced the Pels into 20 turnovers, while L.A. committed just six.
The Lakers also combined for 17 steals and blocks, while the Pels managed only eight.
In the end, the Lakers coasted to another win that further cemented their place on top of the NBA standings.
The season isn't even a month old, but it's hard seeing any team that will top the Lakers, especially if they continue their phenomenal performance on both ends.
Zion, BI Can Only Do So Much
Williamson and Ingram largely excelled Friday, combining for 41 points on 18-of-34 shooting, 15 rebounds, nine assists and a pair of steals and blocks.
The problem was the rest of the Pels largely struggled on a night where the Lakers' entire rotation was firing on all cylinders.
Second-year guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 12 points, but he also had five turnovers and five fouls in just 12 minutes.
Fellow starters Josh Hart and Steven Adams had quiet offensive evenings, combining for 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
The bench outside J.J. Redick (12 points) didn't really get it going either. Nicolo Melli went scoreless in 21 minutes, Eric Bledsoe scored just seven points and committed three turnovers in his 21 minutes, and rookie Kira Lewis Jr. went 2-of-8 shooting.
Still, the young Pels have a bright future with Williamson and Ingram leading the way, even if their five-game losing streak has dropped them to second-last in the Western Conference. Ultimately, there's still so much promise with this team thanks to these two, and they showcased their talents in L.A.
Williamson ran down the court and finished a lob from Josh Hart, who did all the hard work to move the ball from end to end:
New Orleans ultimately fell to the defending champions, but there's always reason to be bullish about this team thanks to the Williamson-Ingram combination, which kept New Orleans in this game into the fourth quarter.
What's Next?
The Pels will visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET in Smoothie King Center. The Lakers will stay home to face the Golden State Warriors on Monday at 10 p.m. ET as part of the NBA's nine-game Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.
Zion Williamson Cleared from Health Protocols; Eligible for Pelicans vs. Lakers
Jan 14, 2021
After sitting one game to work through the league's health and safety protocols, New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has been cleared to return to the team.
According to ESPN's Andrew Lopez, Williamson is eligible to play when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Pelicans on Friday night.
Williamson sat Wednesday, as the Pelicans fell to the Los Angeles Clippers, because he returned an inconclusive test for the coronavirus, coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters.
The loss to the Clippers was the start of what was meant to be a seven-game road trip. That 13-day excursion was supposed to begin Monday against the Dallas Mavericks, but that game was postponed after several Mavericks were out because of the league's health and safety protocols.
Dallas is one of several teams struggling to keep enough players on the roster amid a recent uptick in positive tests for COVID-19 across the league. The NBA announced Wednesday that 16 new players had tested positive since Jan. 6.
Those tests and the contact tracing that follows have led to 10 postponements. The Boston Celtics had three games postponed and are looking to play their first game in a full week on Friday against the Orlando Magic, while the Phoenix Suns have missed three games as well.
To combat the COVID-19 cases and schedule changes, the league announced new rules Wednesday that limit where players can go at home and on the road for at least the next couple of weeks, per the AP's Tim Reynolds.
Through nine games this season, Williamson is averaging 21.9 points and 8.1 rebounds for the 4-6 Pelicans.
Kawhi Leonard Leads Clippers Past Zion Williamson-Less Pelicans in Win
Jan 14, 2021
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots between New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart (3) and center Steven Adams (12) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans 111-106 on Wednesday at Staples Center.
The hosts outscored the Pels 33-15 in the second quarter to take a 61-43 halftime edge, but the Pels cut the lead to four points multiple times in the fourth quarter thanks to second-year point guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who finished with a game- and career-high 37 points on 15-of-23 shooting.
However, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were too strong in the end. Leonard led L.A. with 28 points, and George added 27.
New Orleans put up a valiant effort despite being without Zion Williamson (health and safety protocols), Lonzo Ball (bilateral knee tendinopathy) and Eric Bledsoe (right eye irritation).
The 8-4 Clippers won their second straight game. The 4-6 Pels have lost four straight.
The Clippers looked like they were going to cruise to a victory after leading by 18 at halftime. At that point, it was possible the starters wouldn't even see the court in the third quarter, especially considering the Pels were missing three key players.
However, Alexander-Walker had other ideas, and he guided the Pels within four points on multiple occasions in the final minutes.
The Clips needed an answer for that firepower, which meant Leonard and George had to deliver on the offensive end.
That wasn't a problem. Leonard posted 12 points and three assists, and George had eight points and three dimes. Together, they combined for 20 of the Clippers' 28 fourth-quarter points and assisted on another five.
George's vision was particularly helpful as he found Ivica Zubac for two:
Everything went right for PG-13 in the fourth despite the Pels' push, and he was the beneficiary of some lucky bounces on this bucket that bounced off the top of the backboard and in:
As for Leonard, the two-time NBA Finals MVP proved particularly clutch every time the Pels threatened the Clippers' lead. After Brandon Ingram made a layup to bring New Orleans within four points, 87-83, Leonard hit a nine-footer to put L.A. back up six. Ingram responded with another bucket, but two possessions later, Leonard found Patrick Beverley for a three-pointer.
He then went on a personal 5-0 run before assisting on a George and-1 layup that put L.A. up 100-89. An Alexander-Walker three later cut the Clips' lead back down to six, but Leonard immediately responded with a three to help keep the Pels at arm's length.
New Orleans eventually cut the lead to five, but it was too late at that point after Leonard and George got the job done.
Alexander-Walker Puts on a Show in L.A.
The Pelicans entered Wednesday as significant underdogs. They were missing one of their best players in Williamson, their point guard in Ball and another backcourt starter in Bledsoe.
In addition, they were on a three-game losing streak and about to face the Clippers, a Western Conference title contender, on the road. Not only that, but the Clips entered this matchup healthy, and George and Leonard were both in the lineup.
None of that mattered to Alexander-Walker, who nearly willed the Pelicans to victory.
He announced his presence by making four of five shots in the first quarter for nine points.
If he wasn't nailing three-pointers, then he was slicing into the lane for the finish:
But the Pels needed the three-ball to get back in the game after falling behind by 18 at halftime. Alexander-Walker answered that call with this step-back three:
At that point, Alexander-Walker was already scorching hot, and his torrid pace was suddenly pulling the Pels back into the game. This bucket dropped the Clips' lead into single digits:
Alexander-Walker did all he could to earn the win, but it wasn't meant to be as the Pels couldn't come within one possession. Still, the former Virginia Tech star posted some eye-popping stats by game's end:
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had a career night vs. the Clippers 🔥
Alexander-Walker was taking over for the injured Ball, who will presumably take back his starting job upon his return. However, ESPN's Andrew Lopez provided some good points about his night and what it means for his future:
Re: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Feels like he's comfortable because he knew what his role was from the jump. He knew he wasn't going to get taken out because of one or two mistakes. And he played comfortably.
Idk if you see 37 again, but feels like he's earned 20 mins a night.
Ultimately, the 22-year-old made a strong case for more playing time and a larger role in the Pels' rotation.
What's Next?
Both teams have road games on Friday at 10 p.m. ET. The Clips will visit the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center, and New Orleans will stay in L.A. to play the Lakers.
Zion Williamson out for Pelicans vs. Clippers After Inconclusive Test Result
Jan 13, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) smiles after dunking on Minnesota Timberwolves forward Juan Hernangomez (41) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Now, the second-year star must undergo further testing before returning to the court.
Williamson underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in October 2019. His recovery dragged on well beyond what the Pelicans originally expected, and he didn't make his on-court debut until Jan. 22, 2020.
Once he finally played, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick lived up to the hype. He averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor in 24 appearances. The 6'6", 285-pound forward was at times simply too strong for the competition as he bullied his way into the paint or fought for rebounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hduhfVnAVHo
Questions about Williamson's durability and injury risk arose before he entered the NBA since his frame makes him something of a physical outlier in the league.
New Orleans went so far as to work with him on how he runs and walks during his knee rehab to help alleviate the pressure he puts on his knees.
Much like how Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard are handled by their respective teams, the Pelicans will be proactive when it comes to managing Williamson's workload for the foreseeable future. As much as they want to win now, their focus will be on ensuring the Duke star can hold up over the long haul.
Taking him out of the lineup for a game or two might be the price to pay to limit the chances he suffers a serious injury. In this case, however, it appears Williamson isn't dealing with injury concerns.
The James Harden sweepstakes continue to dominate chatter on the NBA 's rumor mill. But the Association's exchange market is also buzzing for reasons beyond the Beard...
