SI: Players ‘Receive a Total of $1,500 in Per Diem’ at NBA Summer League

Zion Williamson admitted it has been a struggle to stay on the court during the first four seasons of his NBA career. Williamson has only played in 114 regular season games over four seasons.

“It’s hard, man,” Williamson said. “I’m 20, 22, have all the money in the world — well, it feels like all the money in the world. It’s hard.

“I’m at that point now, because of certain things, I’m putting back the wisdom around me. I don’t want to say older because they get defensive, but I’m putting people around me with wisdom. Put me on game to certain things. And just go from there.”

Williamson played in just 29 games last season, missing the final 45 because of a hamstring injury he suffered Jan. 2.

Williamson knows there are more things he has to do.

“Like [former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] taught me, I have to own up to my responsibilities,” Williamson said. “There are a lot of things I could have done better. I didn’t. I’m in the process of fixing those wrongs.”

Williamson also emphasized that he isn’t missing games because he wants to.

“I’m a hooper,” Williamson said. “When I’m sitting on the sidelines watching my teammates in certain games they’re losing, I know if I was out there, I could change the outcome.

“What I want people to know about me is I just want to hoop. I want to be out there. Nobody wants to just sit on the sideline. I think that’s what I want people to understand. I don’t want to be on the sideline. Y’all think I want to sit over there hurt? I don’t.”