Larry Nance Jr. Politely Slams Skip Bayless Over Zion Speculation
NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Pelicans have spent the past few days focusing on an all-or-nothing NBA Play-In Tournament elimination game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Willie Green and the players have tuned out the noise but some speculation deserves to be corrected, at least judging by Larry Nance Jr.'s reaction to recent comments by Skip Bayless.
Bayless tweeted out, "Pelicans executives and players are NOT HAPPY with Zion, who has been cleared to play by team doctors" to tease a segment on Fox Sports 1's Undisputed morning show. Bayless went on to say "(Williamson's) step-father is becoming increasingly upset with the Pelicans for the clause in his contract that allows them to weigh him."
Apr 1, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) and forward Herbert Jones (5), on left, reacts during a stop in play against the LA Clippers during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Bayless elaborated on the television show, "From what I've heard, the Pelicans team doctors have cleared Zion Williamson to play in these playoff games but Zion's independent team of medical people says he's only 99% and they don't want to completely clear him until he's 100% ready to go. So, team management is increasingly at odds with Zion's stepfather. And they just believe that the stepfather, with the advice of the medical people on their side, is holding Zion back from playing."
Larry Nance Jr. had Bayless eating crow before lunch was over.
"No one in our locker room is looking at Z any type of way," Nance said in a tweet. "We're with him every step of his rehab, and support his process, physically AND mentally! Don't listen to people saying things just to get views!!"
Williamson admitted Tuesday, "I don’t know how else to say it. The shit sucks. I love this game...For those people who think I just want to sit on the sideline just to sit over there, I don’t know why people think that. Nah, it sucks. I just want to be playing basketball," Williamson admitted when opening the media session.
"When I go to make certain moves, there is that hesitation...I understand the magnitude of these games coming up and I don’t want to be out there hesitating or doing something that may affect my team in a bad way," Williamson explained. "When I go to make certain moves, there is that hesitation. Sometimes there's not and sometimes there is. And I understand the magnitude of these games coming up and I don't want to be out there hesitating or doing something that may affect my team in a bad way."
The Pelicans released an update and Vice President David Griffin addressed the media last week. Williamson spoke for himself after practice on Tuesday. Still, Skip has to hype up a show even in the face of contradictory evidence and the players correcting his hot takes in real-time.
