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 strain two weeks in the past.
Sources inform Charania that the Pelicans have been initially bracing for Williamson to overlook a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks because of the damage. Nevertheless, it’s attainable that his absence will prolong past that window, in line with Charania, who notes that the previous No. 1 general choose has suffered a number of hamstring strains since getting into the league. In different phrases, the group 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 recreation. 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 select of Duke in 2019, Williamson has already missed 48 or extra video games in three separate seasons attributable to varied 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. 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 group is presently 4-12 within the aggressive Western Convention.
New Orleans did get some excellent news Friday, a minimum of. Will Guillory of The Athletic experiences that Hawkins and Brandon Ingram, who missed Wednesday’s recreation with a bilateral ankle sprain, will go well with up for the Pelicans for his or her NBA Cup tilt in opposition to the Warriors.
