Following the Pelicans’ lopsided loss to the Lakers in the semifinals of the in-season tournament, Zion Williamson faced significant criticism from the NBA community, with Charles Barkley among the analysts voicing their concerns about the former No. 1 pick.
Barkley remarked, “The thing that disturbs me is — he’s not a young kid. When Moses (Malone) told me I was fat and lazy, I was a rookie. He’s been in the league long enough — he’s got two guys on his team that are better players than him, and they shouldn’t be. He was the No. 1 pick in the draft; he should be a better player than Ingram — we like Ingram, obviously, and we love CJ (McCollum) — he should be the best player, and he’s not even close.”
RELATED: Zion Williamson’s Former Trainer Responds to Report Zion Refuses to Prioritize Diet and Conditioning
In response to Barkley’s comments, Williamson delivered a powerful performance on Monday night, scoring 36 points in a statement win over the Timberwolves.
During the postgame press conference, when asked about Barkley’s remarks, Williamson responded with class, saying, “If it comes from a great place where they just wanna see me do better, thank you. If it comes from anywhere else, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Can’t control that.”
Monday’s game displayed Williamson’s determination to dispel any negative narratives through his on-court performance. The Pelicans, led by Williamson, will be back in action on Wednesday against the Wizards.
