Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum Out for Rest of Pelicans' Season with Back, Foot Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson had his season come to an end early once again.
The Pelicans announced on Monday that Williamson will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to a low back contusion. Veteran guard CJ McCollum has also been ruled out for the rest of the year due to a foot contusion.
The 2024-25 season has been yet another disappointment in Williamson's up-and-down career. He was limited to just 30 games after missing a chunk of the year with a hamstring injury. When healthy, he was a strong source of production with 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
This season is especially disappointing after Williamson appeared in a career-high 70 games in 2023-24. Since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, he's appeared in just 214 games for New Orleans, including missing the entire 2021-22 campaign due to foot surgery.
Amid Williamson's lengthy absence, the Pelicans struggled mightily this season and rank 14th in the Western Conference with a 21-54 record. New Orleans also lost point guard Dejounte Murray (Achilles) and swingman Trey Murphy III (shoulder) to season-ending injuries.
McCollum appeared in 56 games this season and averaged 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists. The 2025-26 season is the final year on the 33-year-old's contract.
Without Williamson and McCollum in the lineup, the Pelicans will be missing significant talent as they make their way toward the end of the season.
