Pelicans better understand love languages of All-Star relationships

Paying customers and plenty of mediamembers have loudly expressed their frustrations with how the NewOrleans Pelicans have handled the injuries and updates regardingZion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, to the point of calling theorganization outright liars.

Sure, there were frustrations withinjuries derailing the season, but the messaging did not come froma place of dishonesty. It came from the type of misunderstandingsand miscommunications that can ravage any type of relationship.

The obvious friction within the teamthe last few seasons were publicly expressed through curt answersand solemn body language on gamedays. Executive vice presidentDavid Griffin even admitted last July that the Pelicans “did areally bad job organizationally" in handling some situations,especially after Williamson’s viral pregame dunk and vague commentsto the media. It took a summer of reconciliation, but the mostpressing relationship issues have been resolved. Everyoneunderstands how to speak each other’s basketball love language andapproach expectations for the coming season.

It all started with listening sessionsthis summer, which were a reason Williamson stuck around town forthe offseason. But go back and listen to how Williamson and Ingramtalk about basketball in press conferences over the years.Examining how they speak about the game explains a lot in howthey’ve approached their careers thus far.

Ingram has been using the term"professional" and "basketball" while talking like a hardwoodscientist since his rookie season. It would not be surprising forB.I. to break down film at 4 a.m., making calls to wake sleepy-eyedteammates. Specifically, Devonte’ Graham and Josh Hart have sharedon record how Ingram’s film studies helped their game. Even whenIngram was out with an injury, the deep film sessions to help histeammates improve remained part of his routine. His methodical gamereflects his intense devotion to his craft, though Ingram’spersonality comes off as a bit more laid back.

Williamson “just loves hooping” by hisadmission this Monday and in past interviews. Both are highlytalented and naturally gifted and, as one source put it, “They bothlove the game, but show it in different ways. The game has lovedthem back in different ways.” Organizationally, there have beensome growing pains as perhaps some things got taken for grantedalong the way for a franchise shaping a new identity.

That’s starting to change and it is atwo-way street. This team knows it was in first place last Decemberand Williamson’s renewed commitment has been the theme of theoffseason with those I’ve spoken with.

"This was the first summer where we’veseen Zion take his profession seriously like that and invest in itoff the court on his own in a way that, I think, is meaningful,"Griffin revealed during media day.

This is a reassuring developmentconsidering the past four years. Now, Zion still loves to hoop.There is no doubt. No one shows up on an outdoor court in NewOrleans to work up a mid-summer sweat with some high-school kidswithout loving to hoop. Roll a ball out on a court and a smilingWilliamson is like an overeager puppy. At least Alvin Gentry gotthat right in Zion’s rookie season.

However, Williamson has not had ahealthy relationship with NBA basketball the last few years. TheNBA Draft is a crap shoot and New Orleans was not exactly a primelocation. The new front office had a few growing pains earlier thanexpect as a result. NBA HQ added some bumps and bruises to theprocess as well. The national-TV-heavy schedule as a rookie andthrough the COVID bubble was unwarranted, unnecessary attention; itwas just premature pressure on someone who couldn't legally buy adrink.

Attention before production pairedwith injury setbacks put pressure on every strained relationship,which partly factored into the Pelicans parting ways with coachesGentry and Stan Van Gundy after just a year each with Williamson onthe roster. Zion even went to rehab in Oregon away from the team,returning to the bench just weeks before the team’s playoffrun.

Publicly and privately, it’s “allwater under the bridge” between the locker room and front office.Aaron Nelson is still with the team, but in an advisory role that’sfar more hands-off on the day-to-day. Newly-hired Amy Atmore, theteam's physical/performance therapist and director ofrehabilitation, has already made the players comfortable with therevamped staff and new "ounce of prevention is worth a pound ofcure" process. There are a few more full-time staffers to welcomeinto the group but by all accounts, head coach Willie Green hasrighted the ship culturally in the locker room. The leadershiphierarchies and trust circle bonds are very strong and have beenunanimously agreed upon.

In contrast to Williamson’s on-courthooper mentality paired with a dozen endorsement deals, Ingramloves professional basketball and has been able to operate as anunder-the-radar, one-time All-Star. This approach leads tomulti-generational wealth that secures family futures. Ingram didnot sign a contract extension this summer because "they handing alot of people big money, [and] I’m trying to get some big money”next summer.

Ingram smiled while delivering thatmedia-day-gold statement, but Zion was refusing to flash a grin foranyone to start training camp. This isn’t just hooping anymore.This is serious, professional basketball and it would be adisservice to his talents and teammates to not approach this seasonas the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s also a chance to win backall the fans and provide a return on the team’s investment.Williamson loves to be loved. Ingram, especially after the FIBAexperience, is after All-NBA respect before negotiating a contractextension.

The revamped player performance andmedical staff changes were a direct result of the front officelistening to player feedback. Williamson, who just signed amax-level extension, can see that.

"The Pelicans have put in a lot ofthings this offseason…" Williamson said. "I think what the Pelicanshave done is add good structure and we'll see as the season goes…being on the same page with the personal trainers, really lockinginto every aspect of my body.''

Williamson also listened to feedbackfrom the front office and the team’s veterans. He got the messagefrom CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr., who played through injurieslast season, to set an example.

"I think [the changes] should helpus," McCollum said. “A lot of it is on us and how we prepare. Yourstaff can only do so much."

Off the court, Williamson’slarger-than-life, crowd-pleasing ways mesh well with Ingram’sreserved, low-key-funny, musically-inclined chill. Now, thePelicans need them to make it work on the court when the stakes arehighest. Like any relationship seemingly stuck running in place,huge consequences are resting on the next decision.

“If this team can’t take that nextstep, we need to know that as quickly as possible,” Griffin statedstraightforwardly at media day.

It’s tough to hear for a young team,but at least the tough love is understood as coming from a place ofcaring about what’s best for everyone.

Former NBA vet and Pelicans generalmanager Trajan Langdon said he felt players have returned with abitter taste in their mouths after the way last season ended andexpects them to come into camp highly motivated to show their truepotential. Griffin, who is passing off some of themedical-team-oversight responsibilities to Langdon, feels thisgroup is “really optimistic."

"We have pieces that can be reallydynamic and win together," Griffin said. "They haven’t done a lotof it and they know they have something to prove."

Williamson definitely has something toprove and has new motivations in life to live up to his potential.The expecting father with no more viable professional excuses orblame to be placed on youth ''wanted change."

"If I want change, I have to dosomething different so I sat down with the Pelicans and came upwith a great plan," Zion said.

All public signs from the frontoffice, All-Stars and those speaking behind the scenes point to amended, healthy relationship between all parties as reason forfuture optimism. Reports of mutiny or group dissension aredownright wrong according to what I’ve been hearing. Hot takes toinsinuate the franchise operates from behind a smoke screen missthe mark at best and at times show the worst of biases from peoplewho wouldn’t know which coach or player had a family sitting nextto them in the arena.

There were no ultimatums. It was aremodel, not a revolt. The front office took feedback from theirplayers and ran with it. That’s a positive relationship. It’sboring for offseason news but has long-term benefits for the teamand it’s fans.

"If we would have controlled thenarrative, it would have made (the media’s) jobs a lot more boring,but it would have put [Williamson[ in a better position tosucceed," Griffin said last summer. "I feel like to a huge degree,I failed him in that sense."

The Pelicans and Williamson are now ina position to succeed with a clear narrative: Win and show theworld their true capabilities. Williamson, who trained to be“un-guardable” this offseason, switched vocabulary halfway throughthe press conference with an admission that he is “a basketballplayer."

"I simply want to win and impact thegame. I train to impact the game from all areas… Griff, Trajan andSwin [Cash], those three have been really helpful," Williamsonadded. "They've supported me, they've had my back and we all gotthe same goal in mind, which I think is what family is about –people having your back no matter what and wanting the best foreach other.”

Williamson went further, going out ofthe way to declare his loyalty to New Orleans.

“This is home for me. This is where Iwant to be…" he said. "If something were to happen to me wherebasketball wasn’t there or my life is changed, who would be therefor me? Realistically, who would be there for me? I had to come tothat realization that when it comes to them, the family, and thecity, it’s always good so I focus on that.”

Frankly, if that doesn’t hit you rightin the feels as a fan of the Pelicans, it might be time tore-examine your engagement with basketball and this team. Eitherway the franchise is moving forward with stronger relationshipsjust as their championship window is truly opening. A great startto the season might even feel like a second honeymoon for fans withan open mind and little bit of hope for the future.

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