The Fumble: Zion Williamson Finally Living Up To His Hype, Diana Taurasi Retiring, & More

As we round the last quarter of the NBA season, it’s time to get serious about your team’s playoff hopes and expectations you had when the season tipped off.

One player who appears to finally be living up to his insane amount of hype is New Orleans Pelican Zion Williamson.

At 264 pounds, he’s weighing his lightest since entering the league in 2019 and is averaging 24 points and seven rebounds in the new year. So, while the Pelicans may be in second to last place in the Western Conference, our cohosts Rodney Rikai and Samaria Terry discuss whether Williamson is finally living up to expectations after battling constant injuries.

“We want to see that entire New Orleans Pelicans team healthy. There were some really high expectations for them this season, and they’ve obviously underperformed. With Zion’s numbers, we want to see his new body translate into actual success. And not just from an individual standpoint but having team success. That’s the barometer by which he will be measured,” says Rikai. “Can Zion be somebody who can be the face of your organization and make you a legitimate Championship contender? I don’t know if his style of ball translates to that without having another elite wing perimeter scorer on his team or an elite point guard. But time will tell.”

While Williamson’s still trying to find his footing, another baller is calling it quits. Earlier this week, WNBA legend and career-long Phoenix Mercury Diana Taurasi announced her retirement from the league.

“20 seasons in Phoenix; that’s crazy. Three-time WNBA champion, two-time finals MVP, she’s won league MVP once, she won College Player of the Year twice as well,” Terry said. “She’s just a revolutionary women’s basketball player, and I really hated towards the end of her career when people were pushing her to retire. Why don’t ya’ll witness the greatness we see when she steps on the floor? She’s for sure one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time.”

Check out the rest of the episode above, where the hosts talk about Paul George‘s break from podcasting and an interview with our special guest PAC 12 Sixth Man of the Year, Pelle Larson.