"Got 5 Boston Market rotisserie chickens waiting for him" - Fans react to Zion Williamson's eyebrow-raising move after teammate's missed game-winner

Zion Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans nearly upset the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics on the road on Sunday, falling 120-119. However, the two-time All-Star forward seemingly didn't take solace in his squad's effort. He was spotted exiting the court ahead of his teammates, sparking divisive NBA fan reactions.

After blowing an 11-point first-quarter lead, New Orleans hung around and received an opportunity to win the game in the closing seconds. Leading by one point with 6.6 seconds remaining, Boston was whistled for a five-second violation.

Following the turnover, the Pelicans inbounded the ball in the backcourt to veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum. He pushed it up the court and attempted a running floater off the glass for the win.

However, McCollum's shot had too much force, resulting in New Orleans suffering a one-point defeat.

Following the game, The Athletic's Jared Weiss pointed out on X/Twitter that Williamson appeared displeased after McCollum's missed game-winner.

"After CJ McCollum missed the game-winner for the Pelicans, Zion Williamson immediately walked off directly to the locker room while the rest of the team was on the floor at the final buzzer," Weiss wrote.

Fans on X quickly chimed in, offering potential reasons for Zion Williamson's abrupt trek to the locker room.

One quipped that the 2019 No. 1 draft pick, oft-maligned for his weight struggles, was hurrying to get to his postgame meal.

"He's got five Boston Market rotisserie chickens waiting for him in his locker," @BigCountryPhil said.

Meanwhile, another fan speculated that Williamson was upset by the Pelicans' final play call. McCollum attempted the game-winner despite shooting only 5-for-15 (33.3%) for the contest.

"Why (was) the play not run for him?" @LakeShowJerry wrote.

However, another noted that Williamson got a 3-point look to tie the game in the final minute, and missed badly.

"His 3-point attempt with a minute left, down three points, was benchable," @DiIorioAndrew said.

One fan even blasted Williamson's entire career, dubbing him a disappointment.

"Zion is going to go down as another guy who didn't live up to expectations. He'll end up crash-landing with an injury-laden career," @Fenwaysnark wrote.

Conversely, a few fans came to Williamson's defense, taking no issue with him leaving the court after the game ended.

"Oh, come on, he literally had a foot on the court at the buzzer," @TheMattWetzel said.

"As one does when the game ends," @PauliePWalnuts wrote.

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Zion Williamson makes limited impact in first game back from suspension

Sunday's loss to Boston marked Zion Williamson's return from a one-game suspension for a "violation of team policies." According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the star forward was "late for Thursday's team flight to Philadelphia."

After missing Friday's 123-115 road win over the 76ers, Williamson struggled offensively in his return. He tallied 16 points on just 5-for-15 shooting (33.3%), finishing third on his team in scoring, dropping his season average to 21.8 points per game.

Williamson has been limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury and suspension. Meanwhile, New Orleans sits last in the Western Conference (8-32), fueling speculation about his future with the franchise.

Williamson and Co. conclude their three-game road trip on Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls (18-21).

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