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 celebrity suffered a left hamstring pressure two weeks in the past.
Sources inform Charania that the Pelicans have been initially bracing for Williamson to overlook no less than 4 to 6 weeks on account of the harm. Nevertheless, it’s potential that his absence will lengthen past that window, in accordance with Charania, who notes that the previous No. 1 general choose has suffered a number of hamstring strains since coming into the league. In different phrases, the crew will likely be cautious along 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 capturing line of .452/.333/.667 throughout these bouts.
Accidents and health have been a serious 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 attributable to numerous maladies. Charania notes that the ahead has solely been obtainable for 210 of his 400 potential regular-season contests.
The Pelicans have fallen on exhausting instances with a rash of long-term accidents past simply Williams. Other than 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 crew is at present 4-12 within the aggressive Western Convention.
New Orleans did get some excellent news Friday, no less than. Will Guillory of The Athletic experiences 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.