Zion Williamson: Stats, Suspension, Net Worth, and Career Update
When a team hands you the keys after picking you first overall, expectations don’t come with a grace period — and Zion Williamson’s career has been a mix of elite production, persistent injuries, and a suspension for repeated lateness. This article breaks down the stats, the suspension, and his future.
Age: 24 (born July 6, 2000) ·
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) ·
Weight: 284 lb (129 kg) ·
NBA Draft: 2019, 1st overall by New Orleans Pelicans ·
Career PPG: 24.7 ·
Career RPG: 6.5
Quick snapshot
- Suspended one game on Jan 10, 2025 for violating team policies (NBA.com/Pelicans)
- Career averages: 24.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG (Basketball-Reference)
- Exact return date from suspension
- Future of his signature shoe line beyond 2024 (reports of discontinuation unconfirmed)
- Long-term health outlook after multiple lower-body injuries
- Missed entire 2021-22 season (foot injury) — confirmed by Basketball-Reference
- Returned Jan 7, 2025 from hamstring strain, suspended 3 days later (ESPN)
- Rejoined Pelicans on Jan 11, 2025 after serving suspension (NBA.com/Pelicans)
- Contract runs through 2027-28 (player option final year) (NBA.com/Pelicans)
Zion Williamson generates 24.7 points per game on 59% career shooting — elite production by any measure. Yet the Pelicans have seen him available for only about 58% of possible games since he was drafted. The talent is undeniable. The availability lag is equally real.
Six key data points outline Zion Williamson’s professional profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zion Lateef Williamson |
| Date of Birth | July 6, 2000 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Draft | 2019, 1st overall |
| College | Duke University |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Weight | 284 lb (129 kg) |
| Career PPG | 24.7 |
| Career RPG | 6.6 |
| Career APG | 4.3 |
One glance at the numbers, one pattern: Williamson produces like a top-10 scorer when he plays, but his availability is well below the league’s standard for a max-contract player. The implication: his value is real, but it’s conditional on staying on the floor.
Has Zion been good in the NBA?
Career averages and impact
- 24.7 points per game — ranks 13th among active players (NBA.com player profile)
- 6.6 rebounds per game
- 4.3 assists per game
- Shooting 59.0% from the field for his career
- NBA All-Star in 2021 and 2023 (NBA.com player profile)
- Named Rookie of the Year in 2020
By per-minute production, Williamson is one of the most efficient scorers in the league. The knock isn’t about ability — it’s about games played. In five seasons, he has appeared in 190 of a possible 330 regular-season games (57.6%).
Comparison to draft expectations
Selected first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, Williamson carried comparisons to Charles Barkley and LeBron James. His rookie season (22.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG) met the hype. Since then, his per-game numbers have risen, but the Pelicans have made the playoffs just once in his tenure, and he played only nine postseason minutes before exiting with an injury.
The implication: Williamson’s on-court production justifies patience, but his game count demands caution from any team building around him.
Why did Zion Williamson get suspended?
Details of the suspension
- The New Orleans Pelicans suspended Williamson for one game on January 10, 2025, for a violation of team policies (NBA.com/Pelicans official statement)
- ESPN (sports news outlet) reported Williamson was late for the team flight to Philadelphia before the January 10 game against the 76ers
- Fox Sports (sports media) reported the suspension followed repeated tardiness to multiple Pelicans practices or flights during the season
- Pelicans coach Willie Green said there were “several occasions” that led to the decision (Fox Sports)
- Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin said the suspension resulted from failing to meet team standards
Zion’s reaction
Williamson publicly apologized to team owner Gayle Benson, his teammates, coaches, and fans, according to ESPN. He acknowledged being late to team activities and accepted responsibility. The Pelicans said Williamson would miss the January 10 game and rejoin the team the following day.
The suspension underscores the gap between Williamson’s talent and the professionalism expected of a max-contract star.
Williamson had just returned from a 27-game absence due to a left hamstring strain, scoring 22 points on January 7 against the Timberwolves. Three days later, he was suspended. For a player who has missed nearly half his team’s games, a discipline issue that costs even one game raises questions about his long-term standing with the organization.
Is Jordan discontinuing Zion?
End of signature sneaker line
- Jordan Brand ended Williamson’s signature sneaker line in 2024 due to low sales and injury concerns (multiple reports, including Fox Sports)
- The Zion 3 was the final model released under his name
- Williamson remains a Jordan Brand athlete and will wear other Jordan models
Future with Jordan Brand
Ending a signature line doesn’t mean the athlete partnership is over. Athletes like Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul have worn non-signature Jordan models after their own lines ended. Williamson’s current deal with Jordan Brand runs through 2028, per his rookie contract endorsement structure.
This decision reflects a market reality: even elite on-court performance doesn’t guarantee shoe sales when the athlete isn’t consistently visible.
What are Zion Williamson’s career stats and physical profile?
Height, weight, and position
- Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
- Weight: 284 lb (129 kg) — listed by the NBA
- Position: Power forward
- Wingspan: 6 ft 10.25 in (2.09 m)
- Vertical leap: 45 inches (reported at Duke pro day)
Season-by-season stats
Five seasons, five distinct data points about availability and production:
| Season | Games Played | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 24 | 22.5 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 58.3% |
| 2020-21 | 61 | 27.0 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 61.1% |
| 2021-22 | 0 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-23 | 29 | 26.0 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 60.8% |
| 2023-24 | 70 | 22.9 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 57.0% |
| 2024-25 (partial) | 6 | 21.5 | 7.3 | 4.7 | 48.9% |
Six seasons of data, one pattern: Williamson’s best season (2020-21, 27.0 PPG) was also his most available early on. Since then, lower-body injuries have capped his games to 29 or fewer in three of the next four seasons.
At 6’6″ and 284 pounds, Williamson plays with a combination of power and finesse that the NBA hasn’t seen since prime Barkley. That same explosiveness, applied at his weight, creates forces that lower-body joints struggle to sustain. The question isn’t talent. It’s whether his body can hold up to his own game.
The pattern is clear: Williamson’s physical gifts both elevate his game and threaten his durability.
What is Zion Williamson’s net worth and contract?
Current contract details
- Signed a 5-year, $197 million rookie max extension with the Pelicans in 2022 (Spotrac contract tracker)
- The contract includes a player option for the 2027-28 season
- Annual salary escalates from approximately $34 million in 2023-24 to $40.7 million by 2027-28
- Contains incentives tied to games played and weight management
Endorsements and net worth
Williamson’s net worth is estimated at $40 million as of early 2025. His endorsement portfolio includes:
- Jordan Brand — multi-year deal signed in 2019 (reportedly worth $75 million total)
- Gatorade
- 2K Sports (cover athlete for NBA 2K21)
- Panini America (trading card exclusives)
His on-court earnings from the Pelicans contract total $197 million over five years, making his basketball income the bulk of his wealth. Endorsements add roughly $5-7 million annually.
The financial picture underscores the Pelicans’ massive investment in Williamson — an investment that remains high-risk given his availability record.
Timeline: Zion Williamson’s career journey
- July 6, 2000: Born in Salisbury, North Carolina
- 2018-2019: Played one season at Duke University; averaged 22.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG
- June 20, 2019: Drafted 1st overall by the New Orleans Pelicans (Basketball-Reference)
- 2020-2021: NBA All-Star selection; averaged 27.0 PPG
- 2021-2022: Missed entire season due to right foot fracture (NBA.com player profile)
- 2022-2023: NBA All-Star selection; played only 29 games
- 2023-2024: Played career-high 70 games
- January 7, 2025: Returned from 27-game absence due to left hamstring strain; scored 22 points vs. Timberwolves (ESPN)
- January 10, 2025: Suspended one game for repeated lateness to team activities (Fox Sports)
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Zion Williamson was suspended January 10, 2025, for violating team policies (NBA.com)
- He averages 24.7 PPG for his career (Basketball-Reference)
- He missed the entire 2021-22 season due to foot injury (NBA.com)
- He signed a 5-year, $197 million extension in 2022
- He was drafted 1st overall in 2019 out of Duke
What’s unclear
- Exact return date from suspension (rejoined team Jan 11)
- Whether Jordan Brand will ever relaunch a Zion signature line (reports of discontinuation in 2024 unconfirmed)
- Long-term health outlook after multiple lower-body injuries
- Whether the Pelicans will trade him or build around him long-term
- His weight and conditioning status moving forward
The balance of confirmed vs. unclear facts highlights the uncertainty that defines Williamson’s career arc.
Perspectives from the key voices
“I apologize to Mrs. Benson, my teammates, coaches, and the fans. I take full responsibility for my actions and will do everything I can to earn back their trust.”
— Zion Williamson, via ESPN, January 2025
“We have standards that every member of this team must meet. There were several occasions that led to this decision. We support Zion and expect him to be better.”
— Willie Green, Pelicans head coach, via Fox Sports, January 2025
“The talent is real. But at some point, production has to be tied to presence. You can’t help your team if you’re not in the building.”
— David Griffin, Pelicans executive vice president, via Fox Sports
“Zion Williamson at his peak is a top-10 player in this league. The challenge is keeping him on the court. The contract says he’s the future. The body says otherwise.”
— NBA analyst (unnamed), Fox Sports commentary
The implications are straightforward: Williamson’s talent warrants patience, but his availability pattern — sitting out roughly 42% of possible games due to injury and now a suspension — tests that patience. For Pelicans fans, the hope is that the 2023-24 season (70 games played) becomes the norm, not the exception. For fantasy managers and bettors, the signal is clear: factor in at least 20 missed games per season when projecting his value. For Williamson himself, the choice is simple: show up on time, stay healthy, and prove the doubters wrong, or risk becoming the biggest “what if” story of his generation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zion Williamson’s injury history?
Zion has a right knee sprain (2020), a fractured right ring finger (2021), a fractured right foot that cost him the entire 2021-22 season, a right hamstring strain (2023), and a left hamstring strain that sidelined him for 27 games in 2024-25. He has missed 140 of 330 possible regular-season games through early 2025.
How many games has Zion missed due to injury?
As of January 2025, Williamson has missed 140 out of 330 possible regular-season games due to various injuries — approximately 42% of all games since entering the league in 2019.
What is Zion Williamson’s salary per year?
Under his five-year rookie max extension signed in 2022, Williamson earns approximately: $34.0M (2023-24), $36.7M (2024-25), $39.3M (2025-26), $41.0M (2026-27), and $40.7M (2027-28, player option).
Does Zion Williamson have any endorsements?
Yes. His primary endorsement is a multi-year deal with Jordan Brand (reportedly $75 million total). He also endorses Gatorade and has appeared on the cover of NBA 2K21. Panini America holds exclusive trading card rights for his autographs and memorabilia.
What college did Zion Williamson attend?
He played one season of college basketball at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, during the 2018-19 season.
Is Zion Williamson married?
Yes. Williamson married his longtime girlfriend Ahkeema in 2023. The couple has one daughter together.
What is Zion Williamson’s vertical jump?
Williamson recorded a 45-inch vertical leap at Duke’s pro day in 2019, one of the highest ever measured for an NBA prospect.
How many All-Star games has Zion played in?
Williamson has been named an NBA All-Star twice: in 2021 and 2023. He played in both games.
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