Stephen A. Smith on Zion Williamson's 360 slam: 'It makes me want to throw up' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix

NBA analyst for ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, reacted to Zion Williamson throwing down a 360-windmill-dunk in the New Orleans Pelicans' pregame warmup ahead of their play-in matchup with the San Antonio Spurs.

Zion Williamson

Team:New Orleans PelicansPosition:SF, PFAge:21Height:201 cmWeight:129 kgBirth place:North Carolina, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

According to him, such actions do not help the prestigious NBA product, as Williamson missed all games this season due to injury.

"I am disgusted. Makes me want to throw up," Smith was straightforward. "What good does that to us, as basketball lovers, as basketball fans, loving the NBA?

The fact that I see you out there doing dunks but I have not seen you playing one single game this year, how does that help the NBA product? How does that help the NBA brand to see a guy in a warm-up that you have not seen the entire damn year? It makes me want to throw up!"

Earlier this campaign, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Zion Williamson is not expected to return to play this season. Though, he is making progress toward on-court work.

The 21-year-old returned to New Orleans after rehabbing his fractured foot injury in Portland. Williamson underwent surgery to repair his broken foot last summer and had several return targets delayed this season.

The injury occurred over the summer, and he's had setbacks in his effort to return to the court. He had an injection in his foot in December to stimulate healing.

The No. 1 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has played just 85 games for the Pelicans. He missed the first three months of the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury, and a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot has kept him sidelined this entire season.

Williamson was an All-Star in 2020-21 when he averaged 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

For his career, he has averages of 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 31.7 minutes per match.

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