NBA star Zion Williamson was suspended for the New Orleans Pelicans game with the Philadelphia 76ers – after almost missing the team plane.
The Pelicans improved to 8-31 on the season following a hard-fought 123-115 win on the road at Wells Fargo Center.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson missed Thursday’s game in Philly[/caption]
The 24-year-old was suspended after being late for several team practices[/caption]
But star man Williamson wasn’t on court after he was suspended for “violating team policies.”
Williamson, a former No. 1 overall pick, arrived late as the Pelicans prepared to fly to Philly on Wednesday.
It followed “multiple practices” where the 24-year-old had been lax with his timekeeping, per NBA Insider Chris Haynes.
After being hit with a one-game suspension, Williamson issued a grovelling apology to the New Orleans fanbase.
“I take full responsibility for this suspension,” Zion said.
“I’ve worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy to deliver for this team.
“There is no excuse for being late to team activities.
“I have apologized to [owner] Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I also owe an apology to the fans.
“I can and will be better as a teammate and member of this organization.”
Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin added that Williamson had “taken accountability” for his actions.
“This one-game suspension is a result of failing to meet our team standards,” Griffin explained in a statement.
“[Zion’s] dedication to this organization is of paramount significance to us and to him.
“He has taken accountability for his actions and reaffirmed that commitment to the team today.
“I’m confident he will continue to evolve positively on and off the floor.”
Williamson bulked up with a brutal diet and workout regime over the offseason in a bid to silence his doubters.
New rights deal
The NBA signed an 11-year deal with three networks for the league’s rights from the 2025-26 season.
And there will be no games on TNT for the first time since the network launched in 1988.
The Walt Disney Company will continue to show the league with 80 regular-season games across ESPN and ABC.
They will also show around 18 playoff games from the first and second round, a Conference Finals series for 10 of the 11 years, and remain the home of the NBA Finals.
NBC will return as an NBA broadcaster for the first time since 2002.
The network will show up to 100 games per season across it’s channels and Peacock streaming service.
It will also be the home of NBA All-Star and show approximately 28 playoff games from the first and second round.
NBC will show one Conference Finals Series for six of the 11 years, rotating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.
Amazon will show 66 NBA regular-season games including one on Black Friday.
The streaming service is also the home of the latter stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Tournament.
Prime will also broadcast around one third of the playoff games in the first and second round.
His new diet features scrambled eggs, salmon fried in avocado oil and fruit smoothies, according to The Athletic.
The 24-year-old has previously struggled with his diet and faced criticism from the likes of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
“His problem was food,” Smith said on his YouTube channel in August.
“I’m not exaggerating when I tell y’all you got people in the NBA that say he was hiding food under his bed.”
Despite the changes to his physique, both Zion and the Pelicans (8-31) have endured a miserable start to the season.
Williamson endured a 27-game absence with a hamstring strain, finally returning on January 7.
