Pelicans' Zion Williamson to Miss at Least 2 More Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Zion Williamson hasn't played since Jan. 2. His absence is expected to extend until at least late March.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Wednesday that the star forward was "recently re-evaluated for his right hamstring strain. Medical imaging revealed that Williamson's hamstring continues to heal. His next examination will take place in approximately two weeks."
The Pelicans' season ends on April 9, so there is the real possibility that Williamson won't be able to return until the play-in tournament or playoffs, if New Orleans qualifies for either.
Head coach Willie Greene did tell reporters on Wednesday he's hopeful the star forward can return before the regular season ends, however:
In February, Williamson had progressed to three-on-three drills but suffered a setback during his recovery.
"Unfortunately this is an injury that has a very high incidence of recurrence," basketball operations chief David Griffin told reporters at the time. "It's nothing he did wrong to bring this about. ... It's an injury that's tricky and hard to navigate. I think you've seen other players around the league have those same re-incidences. It's not unique."
The Pelicans could use him. The team sits at 31-34 on the year and is currently the No. 10 seed in the West, clinging to the final play-in berth. The Pelicans were 23-14 when Williamson got hurt. Since then, they've gone 8-20.
Not great.
The 22-year-old is having a monster year when healthy, averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three.
But as usual, injuries have become the primary storyline of his campaign. Williamson has now played in just 114 out of a possible 291 games in his four NBA seasons, including missing all of last year.
When he's healthy, Williamson is one of the game's most talented and unique players. Few players finish at the rim more effectively, in more exciting fashion or with more physical dominance and panache.
There aren't many players in NBA history who can combine his size, strength and explosiveness. But it's a moot point if he spends the majority of the time sidelined.
New Orleans' season likely will come down to whether Williamson can actually play again. What was once such a promising campaign now teeters on the edge of his recovery from his hamstring injury.
