NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson's Athletic Trainer Jana Austin Won't Return to Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly decided to move on from a trainer who worked closely with star forward Zion Williamson.

Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported Thursday the Western Conference team parted ways with assistant athletic trainer Jana Austin. She had been with the team since 2020 and just completed her fourth season on the training staff.

This comes after the healthiest season of Williamson's career.

While he was sidelined for the Pelicans' first-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder because of a hamstring injury he suffered during the play-in tournament loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, he appeared in a career-high 70 games during the regular season.

It was a significant step in the right direction after he missed the 2021-22 campaign with a foot injury and was limited to 29 games in 2022-23 because of a hamstring injury.

Brandon Ingram was also healthier for the Pelicans and played 64 games after appearing in just 45 games during the 2022-23 season.

Clark noted New Orleans implemented "significant changes" to the team's medical staff ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, including re-assigning Aaron Nelson from vice president of player care and performance to an advisory role that did not have him around the team on a daily basis.

Amy Atmore was also hired as director of rehabilitation.

As for Austin, she was an assistant athletic trainer for the Brooklyn Nets in 2018-19 before she became the head athletic trainer of Brooklyn's G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, ahead of the 2019-20 season.

The Pelicans decided to move a different direction as they attempt to take a jump in 2024-25.

While they still managed to defeat the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament to reach the postseason without Williamson, they were swept by the top-seeded Thunder while their star player was sidelined.