Pelicans’ Zion Williamson inks rookie extension worth up to $231m, agent says

Zion Williamson’s lost season to injury and unusual absence from the New Orleans Pelicans during his recovery didn’t stop the club from betting big on their long-term future together.

The star forward agreed Saturday to a five-year, $193m extension with New Orleans that has the potential to be worth as much as $231m, Williamson’s agent, Austin Brown, told the Associated Press.

Classified as a maximum rookie extension under the NBA’s labor agreement, the deal sets the stage for the 6ft 6in, 280lb, high-scoring power forward to give an All-Star caliber boost to a squad that recently proved it could make the playoffs without him.

ESPN first reported the agreement, also citing information provided by Brown, who is the co-director of CAA Sports’ basketball division. The Pelicans have not yet announced the extension, which under NBA rules cannot be signed until 6 July.

The move signifies a desire by the 2019 No 1 overall draft choice out of Duke to see how much his return could help a squad that improved dramatically late last season and made a surprisingly competitive playoff showing.

It is also a show of faith by the Pelicans in the injury-plagued Williamson, who has played a total of 85 games in his first three NBA seasons – and missed all of last season with a foot injury.

This spring, the Pelicans won two Western Conference play-in games before taking top-seeded Phoenix to six games in the first round of the 2022 playoffs. They did so with a squad led by high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram, veteran guard CJ McCollum, center Jonas Valanciunas and a supporting cast of young players who blossomed under first-time NBA head coach Willie Green.

One season earlier, Williamson averaged a team-high 27 points and became a first-time