Stephen A. Smith has been Zion Williamson’s most vocal critic throughout his six-year NBA career. Following the news that the New Orleans Pelicans will shut down Williamson for the remainder of the season, Smith shared his concerns about the big man’s future in the NBA. Williamson, a two-time All-Star, had an impressive season, averaging 24.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56.7 percent from the field.
Unfortunately, whether due to weight issues, which Smith has relentlessly criticized in the past, or freak injuries, Williamson’s body has struggled to handle the demands of an NBA season. In his six years in the league, he has played in 30 games or fewer during four of those seasons. Consequently, Smith suggested labeling Williamson a “bust” on Tuesday’s episode of First Take.
“I feel very, very bad for the Pelicans and the city of New Orleans because Zion Williamson is a star-caliber talent,” said Smith. “When he is on the court and healthy, he’s a monster. The problem is he’s rarely available. As great as he is, the word bust comes to mind, not because of his talent, but because of his availability. If you’re not available, it doesn’t matter how great you are. He’s almost never available. If you traded him right now, you couldn’t ask for the farm for Zion. You might ask, but you won’t get it because he hasn’t been available.”
“The word ‘bust’ comes to mind, not because of [Zion’s] talent.” 😳 @stephenasmith reacts to the Pelicans shutting down Zion Williamson for the rest of the regular season. pic.twitter.com/OXEYLat5aX
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 1, 2025
The label “bust” is highly subjective. While discussing notable NBA busts like Anthony Bennett, Kwame Brown, and Darko Milicic, it’s clear that those players failed to meet the expectations of a top draft pick. It’s valid for Smith to argue that Williamson hasn’t fully met expectations, especially given their high expectations. However, comparing Williamson to historical busts who were far less productive seems a stretch.
