Zion's Road Back: 500 Days, 5 am Wake-Ups, and Notorious B.I.G.
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 19 October 2022
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
For Zion Williamson, Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets marks his first regular season NBA game in 17 months and more than 500 days. Today, The Athletic’s Will Guillory tells us about Zion’s long road back from a broken foot, the workouts that have reportedly left him in peak physical condition, and the inspiration he drew from an album that was released before he was born: Ready to Die from The Notorious B.I.G.
Follow Will Guillory’s coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans: https://theathletic.com/author/william-guillory/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead, add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. |
| 0:09.0 | Drilla Words is back for another season exclusively on Amazon Music. |
| 0:14.0 | We ask people to bring in three words of meaning and significance to their lives. |
| 0:19.0 | We use that as a springboard for conversation. |
| 0:21.0 | And then at the end of the show, we ask them for a word that they'll be happy never to hear again. |
| 0:26.0 | So that's three little words we've made, John Bishop and Tony Pitts. |
| 0:30.0 | Listen to it every Friday exclusively on Amazon Music. |
| 0:42.0 | I would say just my love for the game. |
| 0:44.0 | I know people hear that a lot from me, but, man, when I'm away from the game, |
| 0:50.0 | I'm a life just ain't the same. And I know there's more to life than basketball, but I'm only 22. |
| 0:56.0 | Right. |
| 0:57.0 | So there's not much more. |
| 1:02.0 | For Zion Williamson, it's been 17 months and more than 500 days since he last appeared in an NBA regular season game. |
| 1:10.0 | But tonight, on day two of the new NBA season, Zion will be back in the spotlight. |
| 1:17.0 | Oh, Williamson off that baseline. |
| 1:20.0 | Oh, man, he was flying. |
| 1:23.0 | Today, Will Gillery, who covers the pelicans for the athletic, tells us about Zion's long road back from a broken foot. |
| 1:29.0 | The workouts that have reportedly left him in peak physical condition, and what his return has done for expectations, once again, in New Orleans. |
| 1:38.0 | They feel really good about this roster. They've been able to build around Zion Williamson. |
| 1:42.0 | They kind of have in him as that focal point on the offensive end. They're walking into the season, feeling like they can be a real threat in the Western Conference that they can get through the season healthy. |
| 1:51.0 | Plus, the rise of an unsung X-Factor on this team, defensive stopper, Herb Jones. |
| 1:57.0 | From Wondery, I'm Tiffany Oshinsky. It's Wednesday, October 19th, and this is The Lead. |
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