Pelicans star Zion Williamson primarily worked on fundamentals and conditioning during the NBA’s months-long hiatus, according to Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com.
"Just went back to square one, tried to get my body where it needs to be, get my fundamentals back to square one and start from there," Williamson told Lopez.
Williamson spent significant time with his stepfather, Lee Anderson, harping on the core principles of his game in recent weeks. With the 2019-20 NBA season officially restarting in Orlando, Williamson is looking to build on what’s already been an impressive rookie campaign.
“His stepfather did a fantastic job of working him out every day, of making him be in good conditioning when we got him back,” head coach Alvin Gentry said. “He’s made a lot of strides in his shooting, I think. Although we weren’t together, he did a lot to improve his game.”
Williamson is averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 29.7 minutes in 19 games this season, displaying unprecedented athleticism and power in his first year with the team. New Orleans is tentatively scheduled to have its first scrimmage on Wednesday, July 22 against Brooklyn.
Here are some other notes out of the Southwest Division:
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!