Despite the rumours circulating about his future after missing the entire 2021-22 NBA season, Zion Williamson has made it clear that he's happy with the New Orleans Pelicans and willing to stay in the Big Easy.
"Of course, of course," said Williamson Friday with a big smile when asked if he'd be willing to sign an extension with the Pelicans. "I wouldn't be able to sign it fast enough."
"I can't control rumours and how people feel about certain things," he later added in his first time speaking publicly in a while. "Anybody that knows me knows I wanna be here."
Williamson is signed for next season, but eligible for a rookie extension at a maximum of $186-million over five years this summer.
Without Williamson within their ranks, the Pelicans made an improbable run through the NBA play-in tournament, and gave a 64-win Phoenix Suns team a scare in Round 1, before falling 4-2 in the series on Thursday night.
Williamson was supposed to re-join the team at some point this season after undergoing foot surgery in the off-season, but suffered a series of setbacks through the year that kept him out. Despite that, Williamson said Friday that he was healthy enough to play in the playoffs, but he and the team decided not to risk it.
"From a physical standpoint, I definitely could have played," he said. "But me, my team and the front office and the team, we decided that longevity was better than trying to rush back."
Heading into next season, Williamson said he's thrilled to rejoin the team next season, citing a 'special' locker room, Brandon Ingram's leadership, the emergence of rookies like Herb Jones and deadline acquisition CJ McCollum.
"It sucks watching from the sideline because I just want to be out there, but just seeing the potential, we've got a lot of great pieces, and I'm excited to get on the court with those guys."
