Mike Breen roasts injury-riddled 'street clothes' Zion Williamson after Pelicans suffer 6th straight loss
Veteran commentator Mike Breen delivered a witty remark about New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson during the nail-biting 104-93 overtime loss at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday. While on air, Breen praised Zion as an "amazing talent" but couldn't help lamenting the young forward's struggle to stay healthy and consistently showcase his exceptional skills on the court.
“Zion Williamson in a familiar spot, on the bench in street clothes," Breen said. "Unfortunately, this amazing talent just has not been able to healthy in his career."
Williamson has been out of action since Nov. 6 due to a left hamstring strain. The former Duke standout has played in only six of the Pelicans' 30 games this season, missing 24 games so far.
Injuries have unfortunately defined Williamson's career to date. Since being selected by New Orleans as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, the two-time All-Star has spent more time on the sidelines than on the court.
The 6-foot-6 forward has missed a staggering 230 regular season games due to injuries, appearing in just 190 games over six seasons with the Pelicans.
There's currently no timeline for Zion Williamson's return from his latest injury setback. However, a glimmer of hope emerged, as the forward was seen engaging in individual drills during a Pelicans practice session on Dec. 18.
Fans react to Mike Breen's comment on Zion Williamson
Basketball fans didn’t hold back after Mike Breen referenced "street clothes" while commenting on Zion Williamson. Social media buzzed with reactions, with many fans criticizing the Pelicans star for his struggles to stay on the court.
"Zion is so embarrassing. Hes gonna look back on his career and regret not taking advantage of his talent," a fan commented.
"Only player I've ever seen who gains weight sitting on the bench," wrote another.
"What a disgrace. Just spits in the face of basketball history year after year. This is why people including me don’t watch the NBA anymore. Turn on a game and multiple key players out every single night. Joke league," wrote another user.
"Looks like he’s thinking about some Raising Canes…he sure as f*ck ain’t thinking about Basketball. lol," said another user.
Meanwhile, New Orleans squared off against the Denver Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday, continuing their tough stretch of games. Despite a valiant effort, the team endured a heartbreaking 132-129 loss, marking their seventh consecutive defeat.