Zion Williamson isn’t tripping about his chances of being named NBA Rookie of the Year.
The award, largely believed to be headed Ja Morant‘s way this season, would be “nice, but if not, it’s fine,” says Williamson.
Zion and the New Orleans Pelicans are solely focused on sneaking into the playoffs.
Per The Times-Picayune:
“I’m excited for it,” [Brandon] Ingram said. “I think all our guys are healthy right now. We have a pretty good rhythm and pretty good group right now. I think it’s going to be some fun basketball. I think while I was out the last three games, they found a rhythm pushing the break. On the defensive end, they’ve been really good. Hopefully, we can continue to find our identity.”
Ingram missed the final three games before the All-Star break with a sprained right ankle. He played sparingly in Sunday’s main event but said he expects to have no restrictions when New Orleans faces Portland on Friday.
“I think I”ll be a full go, just having so much time off,” Ingram said. “I think I have three or four more days before I get back. I think it’s going to be almost 100%.”
They are in a four-team race with the Spurs, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They trail Memphis, which is eighth, by 5½ games. They are half a game behind San Antonio and 1½ games behind Portland.
“We’ve just got to take care of the business on our side,” [Alvin] Gentry said. “We have 27 games left. What we have to do is try to look at each and every one of those games and play at a real, real high level. We still control our own destiny until somebody tells me otherwise.”
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