Does Zion Williamson Have Work-Ethic Issues?

The above video was posted to YouTube earlier today by ESPN's The Jump, where host Rachel Nichols interviewed New Orleans Pelicans' General Manager David Griffin (along with Paul Pierce and Vince Carter) concerning the welfare of Zion Williamson, whom the team shutdown for the rest of the Las Vegas Summer League after him playing just the first half of his first game.  The knee injury which reportedly rationalized this decision is not seen as anything major.  But it is what Griffin said about Zion's overall conditioning which really caught my attention:

"He came to us.  He wasn't in great condition.  And from a cardio perspective, it wasn't a great situation to begin with."

The thing that separates the NBA greats from other players who have their same physical attributes is supposed to work ethic.  Michael Jordan was reportedly the hardest working player of his era.  So was Kobe Bryant.  And I've read a couple of accounts of players who formerly played with Lebron being impressed by how he put it in at the gym.  In other words, on top of really-tall and really-athletic they really, really wanted to win.  As for Zion Williamson, he is not at that point right now.  Nor is there any guarantee that he will ever be.

Now let's be frank.  Zion Williamson was not the number-one pick in the Draft due to his work ethic.  Or to put it into perspective, if you or I were born with his body we would have likely been the first pick in Draft also.  This is not me trying to dis him or say anything negative about his drive.  Indeed if anything I'm giving a shoutout to his mom, dad and anyone else who may have passed that trait down to him.

So there is the possibility that Zion likes basketball more than the average person who enjoys playing the sport.  Or there's the possibility that, like any normal 19-year old (his birthday was just two days ago) he would rather spend the day doing things he enjoys (being with his girlfriend, playing videogames, chilling with his homeys) as opposed to being in the gym or on an airplane.  And let's not forget that he has already made a lot more money than most of us ever will.

I knew a few dudes that, if fate allowed, they would spend like all day every day playing basketball.  But we don't for sure if Zion is one of them.  And maybe he'll have to age, just like most of us do, before he really starts feening to win or is mature enough to take his career seriously.  In other words we perceiving him as the next LBJ does not necessarily mean that being so is one of his aspirations.

LET'S GO PELICANS!

Below is a pic which, according to The Jump, is supposed to be how the Pelicans' starting lineup would look if the season started today:

I'm a bit disappointed that Lonzo's name is not on the list, though I can logically understand why.  But at the same time putting a point-guard who specializes in passing on the bench kinda renders him ineffective.

Under this situation ideally JJ or Brandon would be the first to go to the bench, thus bringing in Lonzo and sliding Jrue over to the 2.  Or they may go small, inserting Lonzo in place of Favors and moving Zion to the 5 (and everyone else up a number).

Derrick Favors has been in a couple of situations where he was the player with the 'highest upside' or whatever on his team.  And whereas he does possess a versatile skillset, I don't feel overly confident with dude starting at center.