Nets bracing for matchup with returning Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson has pronounced himself fit for the regular-season opener Wednesday in Brooklyn. Kevin Durant called the Pelicans star a singular talent — something he knows about himself.

“You’ve seen guys at that size, 6-7, that can get up and down the floor and move; but not at that level, though,” Durant said. “You’ve seen guys like Jason Maxiell. I’m not saying they jump as high as Zion, but they were undersized guys that played bigger. And Zion’s one of those guys.

“Rodney Rogers — I’m missing so many guys that were that tall at 6-6, Charles Barkley, bruiser-type guys but played bigger. But Zion’s athleticism trumps all of theirs by far. When you add that to the mix, it makes him a one-of-one.”

Williamson hasn’t played since May 4, 2021, missing all of last season with an injured right foot.

But at the Pelicans’ practice on Monday, Williamson proclaimed, “I’m playing Wednesday.” And presuming he does, Brooklyn expects it to be at a high level.

Zion Williamson (r.) will face the Nets in their season opener.

AP

“I guess there is some trickiness to it: Which Zion do you get? But I think you’d be foolish not to expect an exceptional player,” coach Steve Nash said. “He’s so talented and gifted. He causes problems for everybody, no matter, I think, what state his body and game is in. He’s still such a unique athlete and player.

“So we’ve got to be prepared. We can’t expect anything less than his best or we’ll be surprised and we’ll be second. And when you’re reactive, you’re in trouble.”

Durant, Ben Simmons and Nic Claxton will all likely get their chances to guard Williamson. The latter is a fellow South Carolinian but missed a chance to team up with Williamson growing up.

“We were supposed to play on the same AAU team one year, but it ended up not working out,” said Claxton, who played alongside Ja Morant in his last season of AAU ball. “Yeah, the team didn’t come together. We were all supposed to play on the same team, me, Ja, and Zion. … Something about sponsorships. I don’t think we had a shoe deal. I don’t think Zion wanted to play on a non-shoe deal team.”

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Edmond Sumner is recovered from a hip strain and is cleared for Wednesday. Joe Harris, Seth Curry and T.J. Warren are all already ruled out against New Orleans, with Harris and Curry to be evaluated Thursday.

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Brooklyn hired Jonathan Filipe as head athletic trainer. He had been the head athletic trainer for reigning MLS champion NYCFC, replacing Pistons-bound Sebastien Poirier.

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YES broadcaster Ian Eagle said on a media call that this summer’s Durant drama and self-evaluation could end up helping Brooklyn.

“They got a lot of stuff on the table, and it was important for them to get to the next step by getting to this stage of communication and honesty and straightforwardness,” Eagle said. “When you had stuff hanging over the team the last year and change ultimately, I’m not sure they were going to be able to truly fulfill whatever potential there was. Now hopefully it’s about basketball.”

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