Zion Williamson Out for Pelicans vs. Dillon Brooks, Rockets with Foot Injury

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Dillon Brooks and the Houston Rockets with a left foot bone contusion, the team announced.

Williamson has been in-and-out of the lineup this season due to injuries, and he most recently missed a Jan. 26 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the foot ailment.

Health is always a major concern with Williamson, who has never played a full season since entering the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft due to injuries.

The Duke product appeared in 24 games as a rookie and posted a career-high 61 games in 2020-21 before missing the entire 2021-22 campaign with a foot injury. He was limited to 29 games in 2022-23 due to a hamstring ailment.

Williamson has already appeared in more games than he did during the entire 2022-23 campaign, and he's having a decent season despite being criticized for his weight and lack of conditioning.

The 23-year-old is averaging 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 38 games while shooting 59.0 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep.

Whenever Williamson is sidelined, Naji Marshall and Herbert Jones are the next men up, though Jones is also out on Wednesday with right adductor soreness.

New Orleans is in much better position to earn a playoff berth this year, especially if Williamson can stay healthy. The Pelicans are eighth in the Western Conference with a 26-21 record and are seven games back of the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves.