Injuries to the leg are the worst nightmare of any athlete. Besides the obvious physical injury, it takes a heavy toll on the mental health of the players. Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans has been the prey of one such incident. The forward was once Duke’s number-one prospect and had already created a niche for himself early on. His incredible athleticism and brilliant dunks are a feast for the eyes (and the team).

The 23-year-old power forward missed 53 games due to a hamstring injury. Since joining the NBA franchise, he has participated in just 114 of the 287 games in the last four seasons. But, he is back on the court and already pulling out cards from his sleeve.

Zion Williamson returns in style

Williamson’s return was something everyone has been looking forward to. And now that he is back, the 6’7 number 1 draft pick of 2019 is creating a buzz with his buzzer-beater throw on the court in the preseason game against Orlando. Just 5 seconds into the buzzer, Zion scores.

Yeah, well, everyone knows him for his skill to shoot from anywhere on the court. But, it is an absolute thrill to watch Zion shoot the ball, and at that last moment. It makes for an amazing adrenaline rush. Pretty much all parents will agree that this high is a much better alternative than a few other choice picks.

Zion’s affinity for injuries

Should I say the affinity of injuries towards Zion? Because that’s what it seems like. Ever since he was drafted into the NBA, he’s had injuries over injuries. A detailed look into the timeline will give us an idea of the intensity. Williamson has appeared in 29 of the Pelicans’ 59 games this season. He played the first three, missed two, then played eight, missed three, then featured in 14 before missing another three, and finally played four before being sidelined for the last 22. If you count all seasons, Zion features in just 38 matches per term.

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Another reason could be his weight. At 284 pounds, Zion is heavier than what most coaches and GMs would like for their players. There are only two other players who weigh more than him (Marjanovic and Nurkic, both 291 pounds), but they are taller than Williamson (7’3 and 6’9, respectively).

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That said, anybody who sees him in action would argue the opposite. He uses his size to attack. He is incredibly quick and his ball-handling skills can rival any guard. Zion’s jumping ability has fans comparing him to Vince Carter and Michael Jordan. Hopefully, he can get out of whatever ill luck has caught on to him with regard to injuries.