Zion Williamson has agreed to a five-year, $193-million max rookie extension with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojarowski, via agent Austin Brown.
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has agreed on a five-year, $193 million designated maximum rookie extension that could earn him as much as $231 million, CAA Sports’ Co-Head of Basketball Austin Brown tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/z4lnVLD1GM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022
On Friday, Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported that the Pelicans and Williamson were nearing an agreement on an extension.
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is nearing a five-year rookie max contract extension worth up to $231 million, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The commitment will take Williamson’s new deal through the 2027-28 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022
Williamson was the No. 1 overall pick out of Duke in 2019. He has spent an inordinate amount of time on the injured list, but has been wildly productive when he’s played. Last season, he sat out all year with a foot injury. He has since been cleared to return.
On the bright side for Williamson, the Pelicans seem to be on the rise behind the likes of Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, acquired at the trade deadline. In fact, McCollum may have had his best stretch as a pro after the Pelicans landed him from the Trail Blazers in February.
The idea of Williamson teaming with Ingram and McCollum is something that clearly excites the Pelicans, who qualified for the playoffs via the play-in tournament. They then lost in the first round to the Suns.
He averaged 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in 61 games in 2020-21, before suffering the foot injury playing basketball over the summer.
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