People will clown on this but as a fellow small market team fan we appreciate this. Wish him nothing but the best in Nola

It’s great when a player feels this way about their team and their city, but unfortunately it’s really all about what the Pels want to do :/ 

sucks bc I feel like this is such a real and honest take from Zion, and leaving NOLA would probably be brutal for him on a personal level. 

redditors have to be some of the least funny people out there

They don’t make Beignets anywhere else like they do in New Orleans

Food in new orleans, get it

Bunch of comedy geniuses ITT

I mean where else are you going to find Jambalaya?

The Pelicans organization are god damn fools if they commit to this dude.

“when the check hits, a lot of guys leave the table. I live here. I stay here in the restaurant. I order food, I try different things to try to get to know the chef more. Like, this is home for me. I’ve been here since I was 0 years old.”

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I can respect that honestly

Zion is alright.

Willfully living in New Orleans over the summer is genuinely insane, lol.

Zion over Ja was the right pick after all, if for none other than his attitude towards the game.

That’s a lot of words to say you’re addicted to Jambalaya

“I do different things” - translation: restaurants.

THAT’S THE PROBLEM

Why not butter up the team most willing to overpay you? I see you, Zion

Interesting to see if he stays healthy next year. He was healthy this year but it felt like he was playing out of place and that the team really transitioned away from trying to be built around him

There’s no reason to believe what he’s saying. The pelicans are far and away the most likely team to give him a max deal. I don’t see any competitive team wanting him at a max deal.

Honest question: how many people here realize Zion was legit in the best shape of his career this season and played the 2nd most games of his career?

He also had the 2nd highest TS% for any relatively full season he’s played, and his highest ORTG. I’d also argue he played his best defense yet - especially after All Star break.

You could just glance and see his raw stats are slightly down, but that’s because usage rate was way down. The Pels knew they weren’t going anywhere very early on in the season and didn’t want to run everything through him and risk him getting injured again for nothing. Especially after seeing Fears and Queen needing space to grow.

That said, I think him saying this here is important, because while he has shown he’s not going to be the guy to carry a team to a deep playoff run as a 1st option, he would absolutely being a disgusting 2nd (or even 3rd) option for a genuine contender because he’s a pure bucket getter. People know exactly what move he’s going to do before he does it and STILL they can’t stop it. Imagine a dude like that on a team like, say, the Spurs, or even the Warriors - someone to take some real pressure off the 2nd option and feed off the space.

So yeah, if he does love NOLA and wants to stay, maybe that’s a good thing for the fans. Maybe he’s open to taking a 30something mil deal - who knows?

Translation: NOLA food is undefeated

This is beautiful

I’m just here for the fat jokes

Genuinely who is a good fit for Zion? Any teams been showing interest?

I hope he’ll take a pay cut and stay

Him wanting to stay in the city is great and he seems to really love NOLA. However the issue is that he apparently eats his body weight in gumbo every night and that’s sort of fucking up his career.

Kudos to Zion, New Orleans is a great place.

Annnnnd he’s gone

I love that

United States has three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everything else is Cleveland.

i want zion on the heat. spo can unlock him.

player asks out wow, what an ungrateful douchebag.
Player wants to stay let’s all point and laugh!

Staying in the city is the problem, Zion never had a chance in New Orleans

“I’m not as good as y’all thought and I’d LOVE if y’all overpaid to keep me”

It is an amazing city. Nowhere else like it

Stayed in New Orleans for a few days some years back… never again

new orleans got some good food and strip clubs eh

Crazy to think we’re entering Zion’s 8th year in the league

“…I stay here to eat all the jambalaya”

“I’ve been here since I was eight years old” -Me, ten years old.

He’s working hard on that new contract

I’ll also say it- no wonder he can’t keep the weight off. NO’s got some goddamn fantastic soul food. But honestly it’s nice to see a drafted player embrace the city and want to know it more

Have a lot of respect for a guy who won’t give up on his team.

Yea, you’ve been eating that food since you were 19 too

I pray Zion leave the city

As much as I rock with him for being loyal, this organization isn’t it

I would love to see Zion’s career not go to waste. What happened in the play in, would like to experience that more often

I forget Zion is still in the league

Aka, the food is good

Me when I talk about how I stay in NYC when I have time off work instead of go out of town on vacation.

(It’s because of money and exhaustion though.)

He will eat the table

I bet he would do well in Oklahoma City. Heard the food is terrible there.

zion for draymond who says no (and some picks)

“I guess they think they don’t have food in Portland.”

Just say you don’t want to find new buffets.

Mmm mmm…. That’s some fine muffuletta.

Lolz sure thing pal .. u spend all off season flying in “IG Models” and stuffing your face

We can tell you don’t leave that food behind bro.

Bro needs to host a food show after he retires.

That explains his weight issues. Best food in the world is in NOLA.

Kelvin Benjamin: “when 10oclock hits, a lot of guys leave golden corral. I live here. I stay here in the city. I go out, I try different things to try to get to know the city more. Like, this is home for me. I’ve been eating here since I was 19 years old.”