NEW ORLEANS -- What a difference a year makes. Last year on July 6, his 21st birthday, Zion Williamson found out he had suffered a broken right foot, an injury that ended up costing him the 2021-22 season. This year on July 6, his 22nd birthday, the New Orleans Pelicans' forward put ink to paper and signed his five-year designated rookie max extension that could be worth up to $231 million.
Asked where this birthday ranks, Williamson smiled and patted Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin on the shoulder. "Number one," he said.