Pelicans All-Star power forward Zion Williamson will miss several more weeks as he continues to recuperate from a right hamstring strain, per Christian Clark of NOLA (Twitter link).
According to Andrew Lopez of ESPN (via Twitter), head of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters today that Williamson had advanced in his rehab process to participating in 3-on-3 work, but re-aggravated the ailment in a recent practice. The former No. 1 overall pick will have his health reassessed by the team’s medical staff following the All-Star break.
As Clark notes, Williamson has already been shelved since first suffering the injury on January 2. In his absence, New Orleans has cratered, going 6-14 in this current stretch without him. Though the Pelicans occupied a spot near the top of the Western Conference standings when Williamson was healthy, the team has now fallen to the seventh seed and is only 1.5 games clear of the No. 11 Jazz.
Williamson has missed far more games (169) than he has actually played (114) in his NBA career to date, as Clark tweets. Across his 29 healthy games this season, the third-year forward is averaging 26 PPG on .608/.368/.714 shooting splits. He’s also pulling down 7.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG and 0.6 BPG.
Given that Williamson and Warriors All-Star point guard Stephen Curry will both definitely miss All-Star Weekend festivities next week in Salt Lake City, the NBA named Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards and Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox to fill in as replacement All-Stars for the West.
Why does the Pelicans always draft Street Clothes!!!
High pay for a part time player. Maybe when Zion back pelicans could be out for the playoff. Trade Zion at the summer and try to get a healthy full time player. Good luck pelicans.
Freakish talent not matched by freakish tendons, ligaments, and muscles. He should sit every other game.
Anthony Davis 2.0
Maybe worse actually
I think he is.
Davis had achieved more in the first 4 years. Zion will end up being one of the great what ifs
Lol and no one is surprised.
And they had the guts to say he’s better than Barkley
Just too much beef on Fat Zion for his body to withstand the tribulations of professional basketball.
Next Greg Oden?
When Pelicans are right they are scary. Bird is the word come playoff time
Rehab seems to be especially treacherous for him. So, if he can just avoid getting hurt, he should be fine.
What a shame. A very nice young man seemingly plagued by the same disease so many big men have been plagued with.