Zion Williamson Prepares for Knicks Showdown
Zion Williamson has slimmed down significantly ahead of his appearance at Madison Square Garden.
The “freak of nature,” as teammate Josh Hart described him, has played in 45 of the last 46 games leading up to his matchup with the Knicks. This is quite impressive, especially considering the injuries and games missed early in his career that had some questioning his potential.
Hart, who was with Williamson in New Orleans for a season and a half, had high praise for him. “He’s very talented,” he shared. “When he’s focused, he could easily be among the top 15 or 20 players in the league, if not higher.”
Drafted first overall in 2019, Williamson has been a highly anticipated player in the NBA for years. Despite his talent, this season has kept him mostly out of the limelight.
He faced restrictions on his playing time earlier in the year and, as a result, won’t be in the running for postseason accolades, despite posting respectable averages of 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 29.7 minutes with a shooting percentage of 59.8.
Still, he’s certainly someone the Knicks need to keep an eye on.
“He’s an absolute natural,” Hart emphasized, adding that Williamson’s explosive movements and finesse around the basket will pose a real challenge. “We just need to play solid defense, avoid swiping at him, and try to finish the play.”
This season, the Pelicans have had their struggles with a 25-47 record, but they’ve shown signs of improvement lately, clinching 12 wins in their last 19 games. Unlike the Knicks’ recent opponents, the Pacers, Nets, and Wizards, the Pelicans are energized, especially after trading a 2026 first-round pick to the Hawks—no reason for them to tank now.
As the Knicks prepare, they’re up against an energized team and a determined, athletic force in Williamson. He’s only played at Madison Square Garden twice in his career, winning once and losing the other.
“What stands out is not just his initial burst, but his second jump too,” Hart noted. “You might think he struggles to finish, but he has incredible touch around the rim. If he misses, he can get rebounds quickly and often jumps before others have even landed.”
Meanwhile, the Knicks faced some injury news as well; Landry Shamet missed his second straight game. He has a tibial plateau contusion after bumping his knee in a previous game. Thankfully, it’s not severe, and he should be back sooner rather than later.
Shamet was present during Sunday’s game against the Wizards but was in street clothes, dealing with a sore right knee.
