JJ Redick Calls Out Zion Williamson For Lack Of Commitment

Things are apparently coming to a head within the New Orleans Pelicans after former player-turned-podcast host JJ Redick called out Zion Williamson for his seeming lack of interest in the organization.

In a guest appearance on ESPN’s First Take hosted by Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith, Redick put out a damning condemnation of the sidelined Pelicans superstar for not reaching out to National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) president CJ McCollum when he was traded to New Orleans at the trade deadline.

“There’s a general decorum of behavior that you should apply as a teammate. This just shows a complete lack of investment in your team, your organization, in the city. You just traded for one of the 50 best players in the league [today], a guy that’s supposed to be paired with you. This is a pattern of behavior with Zion [Williamson] that we’re seeing again and again. I was his teammate; I can describe him as a ‘detached’ teammate. That is an accurate statement,” said the 15-year veteran.

The ever-fiery Smith agreed with the former Duke Blue Devils star’s takes on the Williamson-McCollum situation, saying that the 21-year-old is showing signs of him not wanting to be drafted by the Pelicans in the first place.

The entire issue started when McCollum revealed on the All-Star Weekend edition of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” that he and Williamson have not spoken with each other since he got traded to the Pelicans.

Williamson’s seeming lack of care in welcoming his new teammate to the organization caused even more rumors of his seeming disenchantment with the Pelicans to emerge.

“NBA Today on ESPN" host Malika Andrews has since confirmed that Williamson and McCollum have spoken following the incident.

Based on the replies to Andrews’ tweet, fans are not convinced that the conversation happened at all.

Regardless of outside perspective, the fact that Williamson and his camp allowed the situation to escalate to such a degree has already left another blemish on his already heavily criticized tenure in New Orleans.

Williamson remains on the sidelines since fracturing his foot during the offseason and is rumored to undergo a second surgery as he has been feeling discomfort in that same foot for months now.

New Orleans fans were excited to see Williamson on the court, but this latest setback could see him miss the entire season which may not entirely be a bad thing since the team--now led by McCollum and lanky forward Brandon Ingram--is aiming for an appearance at the play-in tournament in mid-April.

Should the Pelicans succeed in making the playoffs, Williamson may be enticed to show more effort in his team’s future while also silencing the doubters that have hounded him.

CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Miami Heat at Smoothie King Center on February 10, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images