NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – The New Orleans Pelicans struggled in yet another away game Wednesday night as they fell to the Denver Nuggets 144-119, dropping the team to 12-39 and 4-21 on the road.
With the Pelicans firmly out of playoff contention, questions continue to circulate about Zion Williamson’s performance and whether the starting Power Forward is committed to his physical conditioning and working through injuries.
5thQuarterSports sat down with Williamson after Wednesday’s game to discuss the rumors.
When asked point blank if he is lacking motivation, the two-time all-star admitted that he has been feeling apathetic and disillusioned, largely because of his view that AI and automation are replacing labor previously performed by human employees.
“I mean, AI is just gonna take all our jobs, right? Like, it’s already happening, right? It’s hard to feel excited about improving my game all the time when that’s just something that’s gonna happen.”
Asked to clarify, he went on:
“You know what I’m talking about. What happens when a computer can do everything that a human can do, but better? I’m talking any job. Our economy is seriously changing, and we’re all about to be unemployed.”
Williamson missed 27 games early this season due to a left hamstring strain, one of many injuries over the course of his career. He made his return on January 7 in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves that the Pelicans ultimately lost 104-97, despite a strong effort from the 24 year old.
During this latest injury, commentators and social media posts once again buzzed with allegations that Williamson is regularly eating unhealthily and slacking on his workouts, ultimately impacting his performance. Nearly a month after his return, I ask how he’s feeling post-injury.
“It’s been really nice to be back playing again. I always want to be out there with our guys, of course. But even when that’s keeping me busy, I still just feel all stressed out about what’s gonna happen down the road. I mean, there’s a lot of jobs already disappearing because of AI and automation, and like, there’s a lot of people out there who had a skill, you know? But then their job got replaced with a f------ robot, and man, that’s their money right there, that’s their livelihood.”
Zion leans forward on the couch and pulls out his phone. He starts scrolling around the Doordash app, elbows on his knees and head in his hand.
“And I feel like no industry is safe, not even mine. I mean, like, a lot of that stuff is gonna happen soon, like during my career, maybe during my prime. You see how that makes it kinda hard to really give your full effort day in and day out?”
I bring up the emphatic 360 windmill dunk Williamson showed off in the third quarter of his return game and ask what he was feeling in that moment.
“Just excited, you know? I mean I get stoked coming back after an injury, cause, well, I think about it a lot when I’m injured, you know? Cause that’s when there’s nothing to do but just sit around and wait, and just, I don’t know, think.”
The former ACC Athlete of the Year laughs a little, shaking his head.
“And I’ve spent a lot of time being injured during my career, I know that. S---, a lot of medical attention has gone into my body. And that’s when I’m faced with it the most often, too, cause like, these doctors use so many computers and insane technology when they’re helping us recover, it’s crazy. And like, I feel like every time I’m in the doctor’s office, there’s less doctors and nurses, and more computers and machines around. I don’t know.”
Zion turns off his phone but continues his unfocused stare at the blank screen.
“The heart transplant was a big one,” he says.
“You know, I didn’t think much going into it, but afterward I was just like, man, they replaced my heart with like, this little robot machine, and then while they were at it they went ahead and switched out my pancreas with like a computer chip. I mean, it’s a lot to think about. It changes your perspective.”
I ask Williamson to elaborate and he sets his phone aside, still leaning forward on the couch. His voice is quiet and thoughtful, and I can tell he’s being earnest.
“It’s just like, with all the pistons and gears where there used to be muscles, and all the microchip processors, just all the work we’ve done to my body- it’s just a lot. And you’d think that would make everything good, like I’m lucky, but nah, it kinda adds to it all. It makes it hard keeping my head in the game.”
Zion looks up at me, and I can see a longing in his expression.
“As I become more machine than man, what will I become as a player, and as a person? At what point do I cease to be Zion? Why are we even here- like, what are we meant to do? This whole technological transition that we’re in, I mean, I feel like I’m part of it. And our technology is so incredibly useful, like, it can do so much for us. But, you know, that’s gonna mean some major changes- for everyone. And change is… complicated, I guess. My transformation definitely makes it be something that’s more on my mind, personally.”
With a heartfelt sigh, he picks up his phone and begins scrolling through Doordash again.
“So yeah, I’ve been a little distracted. But I’m gonna keep giving it my all every game, and I think we can still turn this season around.”
