Pelicans All-Star ahead Zion Williamson is nowhere close to being able to return to the hardwood for New Orleans, sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN. The 6-foot-6 famous person suffered a left hamstring pressure two weeks in the past.
Sources inform Charania that the Pelicans had been initially bracing for Williamson to overlook not less than 4 to 6 weeks on account of the damage. Nonetheless, it’s potential that his absence will prolong past that window, based on Charania, who notes that the previous No. 1 total choose has suffered a number of hamstring strains since getting into the league. In different phrases, the group shall be cautious together with his timeline.
In his six wholesome contests for New Orleans, Williamson averaged 22.7 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per sport. He posted a taking pictures line of .452/.333/.667 throughout these bouts.
Accidents and health have been a significant obstacle to Williamson’s professional profession. Since being chosen with the No. 1 pick of Duke in 2019, Williamson has already missed 48 or extra video games in three separate seasons as a consequence of numerous maladies. Charania notes that the ahead has solely been out there for 210 of his 400 potential regular-season contests.
The Pelicans have fallen on laborious occasions with a rash of long-term accidents past simply Williams. Except for Williamson, ahead/heart Herbert Jones, and guards Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins have all missed prolonged time this 12 months. The group is at present 4-12 within the aggressive Western Convention.
New Orleans did get some excellent news Friday, not less than. Will Guillory of The Athletic reviews that Hawkins and Brandon Ingram, who missed Wednesday’s sport with a bilateral ankle sprain, will go well with up for the Pelicans for his or her NBA Cup tilt towards the Warriors.
