When you see the title, do you think I'm going to talk about Xiaoka, but I'm actually talking about Zion Williamson.
Fat Tiger's style of play is really likable, even if he doesn't shoot three points and has no long-range shooting ability, but this impact is enough to become a weapon for selling tickets. It is recognized that Fat Tiger is good at playing, but it is also an objective fact that he doesn't play much.
The Fat Tiger suffered a hamstring injury on November 7 and has been out of action for more than two months and has missed 27 consecutive games. I even forgot what the fat tiger injury was, although the hamstring injury was troublesome, but two months at a time was too long.
But as long as Fat Tiger can play, he is simply a walking highlight making machine. In the first quarter today, he played 8 minutes and made 3 of 4 shots, scoring 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, as well as a wonderful empty dunk.
In the third quarter, Zion made consecutive steals and dunks, and also showed off an aerial spin 360 to the home audience. His weight, bounce height, and body control in the air are breathtaking, and it's this contrast that makes Fat Tiger so popular with fans.
But gravity is fair to anyone, and this contrast of the fat tiger is good-looking, but the greater the weight, the greater the physical load. The higher he jumped, the greater the impact on his two scarred legs.
Have you found that Fat Tiger's injuries are rarely the kind of major injuries that are received in an instant, they are all accumulated loads over the years, and they suddenly erupt after a certain jump and landing. For example, in the play-off game against the Lakers last season, a simple landing, without confrontation, the legs will not work.
The Pelicans' protection for him is all-round, and he came back today on time to get on and off the court, and he was very dead to the time, so he let the fat tiger play for a while after seeing the hope of winning in the last quarter.
Fat Tiger played 28 minutes in the game, 9-of-15 shooting, 0-of-2 three-pointers, 4-of-9 free throws, 22 points, 6 rebounds (4 frontcourt rebounds), 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, plus/minus +8.
Every time I see Fat Tiger's sparse outside touch (and free throw touch), it makes me wonder how he threw those four three-pointers in his career debut? It's as if the luck of a whole career has been used in the debut.
The Pelicans also lost to the Timberwolves, with only 7 wins and 30 losses so far this season, 3.5 wins worse than the Jazz, who are determined to swing badly, and the bottom spot in the West is as stable as Mount Tai.
This season, the Pelicans' lineup feels like it hasn't been completely neat, the fat tiger here has finally returned, and Ingram can't be out of the injury list. Basically, everyone in the team who can be named has been injured again, and rookie Missy has been ranked first on the rookie list.
Also because of the Pelican's swooping record, there was once news that the Pelican was going to give up the Fat Tiger, although it was not very true, but the Pelican did have the capital to give up the Fat Tiger.
In 2022, the Pelicans gave Fat Tiger a five-year, $197 million early contract extension. This cap contract may have the most protective clauses in NBA history. The contract has strict regulations on Fat Tiger's weight and number of appearances.
Since Fat Tiger missed 53 games in the 22-23 season after signing the contract, the last three seasons of his contract, 38.9 million in the 25-26 season, 41.5 million in the 26-27 season, and 44.2 million in the 27-28 season have all become non-guaranteed contracts.
Fat Tiger's contract for this season was changed to full guarantee today, but it only refers to this season. Fat Tiger needs to meet the following criteria in the previous season in order to receive some or all of the guaranteed salary in the next season.
If the fat tiger meets the weight standard (the sum of weight and body fat percentage should be less than 295), 20% will be guaranteed; 41 games played, 40% turned into security; If 51 games are played, an increase of 20% will be turned into security; If you play 61 games, an additional 20% will be added to the guarantee.
In other words, if the Fat Tiger wants to get a fully guaranteed contract for next season early, he must play 61 games and meet the weight standard. This season, the Fat Tiger will definitely not be able to meet the standard of 61 games, and it is uncertain whether it will be lower.
If the Pelicans are determined to give up the Fat Tiger this summer, then he won't get a penny for the last two years of his contract, and how much he will get paid for the 25-26 season depends on the attendance situation this season.
For Fat Tiger, it is very realistic that how much money he can get is directly related to his health condition. So sometimes try to show off as little bit of bounce as possible, and increase the awareness of protecting your legs, which is good for the team and himself.
There is no hope for the Pelicans this season, but for the future development of the Fat Tiger, you can still look forward to it a little, provided that you don't lie down again.