For Zion Williamson, the next two seasons may be the most consequential of his career, not just for his legacy, but for his bank account. The New Orleans Pelicans’ star forward must stay healthy and meet strict conditioning benchmarks, or he risks losing as much as $87.06 million in guaranteed salary over that span.
In 2022, Williamson signed a five-year, $197 million rookie-max extension with the Pelicans. On paper, it looked like a franchise’s full commitment to its young superstar. But hidden within the deal were some of the most unique clauses in NBA history, clauses that tied Williamson’s financial security directly to his health, weight, and availability.
The reason was clear: in his first three seasons, Williamson played just 85 games, missing more than half of New Orleans’ schedule due to injuries. The Pelicans, desperate to keep their star but wary of his durability, structured the contract to protect themselves.
The deal requires Williamson to pass six weigh-ins per season, ensuring his weight and body fat percentage remain below a combined 295 pounds. Each successful weigh-in guarantees 20% of the following season’s salary.
On top of that, Williamson must hit games-played thresholds:
- 41 games guarantees an additional 40% of his salary.
- Every 10 games beyond that secures another 20%, with full guarantees kicking in at 61 games played.
In other words, Zion’s paycheck is literally tied to his ability to stay on the court and in shape.
Because Williamson fell short of the benchmarks in the second year of his extension, the final three years of his deal became non-guaranteed. That means the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons, worth a combined $87.06 million, are now at risk unless he proves his durability.
The Pelicans did not waive him before the July 15 deadline this summer, ensuring his 2025–26 salary is locked in. But beyond that, every game and every weigh-in matters.
This offseason, Williamson stunned fans and media alike with a dramatic body transformation, appearing leaner and more explosive at Pelicans Media Day. The change suggests he’s taking the contract clauses, and his career trajectory, seriously.
At 25, he remains one of the league’s most dominant interior forces when healthy, averaging 25.7 points on 60% shooting across his career. But the narrative has always been the same: can he stay on the floor?
