Pelicans star big man Zion Williamson has a fractured left ring finger and will be sidelined indefinitely, according to the team’s Twitter feed.
Williamson underwent a series of diagnostic tests on Thursday before the team departed for its game tonight at Philadelphia. A CT scan revealed the injury. A treatment plan and timetable for his return will be determined upon further evaluation, the team adds.
The loss of Williamson could kill off New Orleans’ playoff aspirations. The Pelicans are still in the running for the play-in tournament, sitting a game-and-a-half behind San Antonio for the 10th and final spot.
GM David Griffin held a press conference moments after the injury was announced and ripped the league’s officials, claiming Williamson hasn’t been getting enough calls when opponents get physical with him in the paint, Will Guillory of The Athletic tweets. Griffin blamed himself and the organization in part for not complaining enough about the way Williamson is officiated, Scott Kushner of the New Orleans Times Picayune tweets.
Griffin also said Williamson has been playing through an injury to his right thumb that would have required surgery for many other players, Guillory adds in another tweet.
Williamson played 37 minutes against Golden State on Tuesday, piling up 23 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. The All-Star is averaging 27.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 3.7 APG in his second season after being taken with the No. 1 pick in 2019.
Not 100% sure but I’m pretty sure Zion just had the best age 20 season in league history next to LeBron by almost any statistical metric. And maybe the highest PER of any 20 year old ever.
NOP is pretty much out of it anyway, although the unlikely chance that they could have made 10 would have been intriguing, especially with Curry in the play-in game as well.
Either way, get him healthy, and hopefully next year’s roster and coaching staff is better equipped to maximize his talents.
I understand everyone has complaints about officiating at one time or another, but that’s not where Griffin owes the team’s fans an apology. It’s for knowing that your franchise player has been playing with an injury for a while where most others would opt for surgery, but continuing to send him out there until he gets another serious injury that effectively ends his season.
Zion has had problems with the left for some time.
Spinning in a long right circle like Zoolander
I dude wth are you doing? The NBA made the playin just for you.
WTH not getting calls? He is a big dud and just pushes people around under the basket. Against GSW he got to the line more than any player on the court. He got to the line on 3 calls the last game where he caused 100% of the contact. The coach is crazy to say he doesn’t get the calls. Small players are the ones that don’t get the calls.
He is absolutely not a dud. What are you saying??
He meant dude I think not dud
This is hoops, is all ’bout size, height, weight & strength, I like to see a big guy bullyin’ the lil’ ones in a court, like Shaq, Embiid or Zion… so if he pushes & bullies lil’ guys, then all is good with the world!
Too many lil’ guys & too many shooters in the league & not enough big bruisers, if you ask me!
The point is he shouldn’t get a free throw when he makes the contact by pushing the player with his shoulder. It should be a no call but his coach feels he deserves to push players and get to the foul line.
Zion is a pleasure to watch. As long as you have methodical SVG as coach he will never play in the finals.
Literally no more points for him