Zion Williamson
FILE - New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy calls out from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in New Orleans, in this Wednesday, April 14, 2021, file photo. The Knicks won 116-106. Stan Van Gundy is out as Pelicans coach following just one season at the helm, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday, June 16, 2021, because the move has not been publicly announced. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy out after 1 season at helm

By Brett Martel Jun. 16, 2021 11:26 AM EDT

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts during a late run in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in New Orleans, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. The Pelicans won 108-103. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Williamson, Griffin, offer different views of Pelicans' play

By Brett Martel May. 17, 2021 07:27 PM EDT

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Luguentz Dort, left, goes up for a shot in front of New Orleans Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Williamson scores 27 as Pelicans top Thunder 109-95

By Cliff Brunt Apr. 30, 2021 12:44 AM EDT

New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram, center, shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro, left, and Kevin Love, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Williamson scores 38, Pelicans rally past Cavaliers 116-109

Brian Dulik Apr. 11, 2021 09:56 PM EDT

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, center, reaches for a rebound against Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III, left, and forward Grant Williams, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 29, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Zion scores 28, Pelicans beat Boston 115-109

By Jimmy Golen Mar. 29, 2021 10:18 PM EDT

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) and center Boban Marjanovic (51) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, March 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Williamson scores 38, Pelicans use late run to top Mavericks

By Peter Finney Jr. Mar. 27, 2021 11:51 PM EDT

MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo slams for two points during basketball's NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Still perfect: Team LeBron wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150

By Paul Newberry Mar. 07, 2021 11:10 PM EST

Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, left, and Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Embiid, Simmons miss All-Star Game; Zion starts instead

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 07, 2021 11:46 AM EST

New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) is blocked by San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge (12) as he tries to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
DeMar DeRozan has 32 points, 11 assists in Spurs' victory

By Raul Dominguez Feb. 27, 2021 10:44 PM EST

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks as Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) watches during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Ingram, Williamson power Pelicans past Grizzlies, 118-109

By Brett Martel Feb. 06, 2021 11:44 PM EST

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Celtics plan to play Friday, another Suns game called by NBA

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 14, 2021 11:25 AM EST

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich in a mask as he talks with players on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Another 3 NBA games called off amid virus, 16 test positive

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 13, 2021 11:43 AM EST

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, then-Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, left, talks with an official during the second half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Chicago Bulls made sweeping changes to their front office for the 2020-21 season and snagged Donovan, one of the top coaches on the market, hoping an overhaul in leadership will carry them back to respectability. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
New NBA coaches for 9 teams navigating compressed timeline

By Brett Martel Dec. 19, 2020 11:31 AM EST

Miami Heat forward Moe Harkless attempts to steal the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Healthy Zion Williamson, new coach, give Pelicans fresh hope

By Brett Martel Dec. 15, 2020 01:24 PM EST

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, right, talks with an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Pelicans fire Alvin Gentry after 5 seasons as team's coach

By Brett Martel Aug. 15, 2020 03:21 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James speaks during the NBA basketball team's media day in El Segundo, Calif. This season’s NBA MVP has won the award before. A trio of past winners of the award — reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, four-time MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and 2017-18 winner James Harden of the Houston Rockets — were announced Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, as the finalists for this season’s top NBA individual honor. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)
The NBA MVP finalists: Antetokounmpo, James and Harden

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 08, 2020 03:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 4, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots free throws prior to an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. The NBA said Saturday, July 25, 2020, that Williamson will have to serve a four-day quarantine for leaving the league’s Disney bubble on July 16 to tend to an urgent family matter. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Pelicans place Zion Williamson in starting lineup vs. Utah

Jul. 30, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, March 3, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Los Angeles. Davis left his team’s scrimmage against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, July 25, 2020, after being poked in the right eye and is listed as day-to-day. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Davis, Williamson say they're ready for re-opening night

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 29, 2020 04:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson walks onto the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in New Orleans. The rookie sensation’s availability to play remained unclear as the season’s resumption in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approached. He left the NBA’s so-called “bubble” setup on July 16 to attend to an unspecified family medical matter. A week later, the club had yet to provide an update on his possible return. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
Zion Williamson practicing, could play in Pelicans' opener

By Brett Martel Jul. 28, 2020 08:47 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, stands with forward Anthony Davis during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles. James and Davis had the Lakers on course to contend for another NBA title before the coronavirus pandemic upended their first season together. The superstars see no reason they can’t continue their quest in Orlando, and Davis even thinks the Lakers’ chances have improved.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Davis could miss Lakers' 1st game back after poke in eye

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 28, 2020 07:37 PM EDT