The Pelicans provided a brief update today on Zion Williamson‘s recovery from right foot surgery, issuing a press release that said recent imaging showed “improved bone healing” in the fifth metatarsal of his foot.
According to the team, Williamson will gradually progress to full weight-bearing exercise and basketball activities. However, while the star forward’s recovery is trending in the right direction again after a couple setbacks in December, he’s still out indefinitely, per today’s announcement.
Williamson underwent surgery on his right foot during the 2021 offseason and has yet to play at all this season. Comments that he and head of basketball operations David Griffin made on Media Day in September strongly suggested the 21-year-old was targeting opening night for his return. Griffin later claimed that when he said Williamson would be ready for the season, he hadn’t meant the start of the season, but Zion himself was clearly aiming to be back for opening night.
It has now been more than five months since Griffin and Williamson addressed reporters on Media Day, and time is running out for the former No. 1 overall pick to play at all in 2021/22 — the Pelicans’ regular season schedule will conclude in just five-and-a-half weeks, and the club wouldn’t be guaranteed more than a single play-in game unless it can move up to No. 8 in the conference standings.
Whether or not Williamson plays this spring, the coming offseason will be a very significant one for him. The former Duke standout will be eligible for a rookie scale extension, and signing a long-term deal would go a long way toward answering questions about whether or not he wants to be in New Orleans. If he and the Pelicans don’t reach a deal, rumors about his possible discontent would only intensify.
I doubt he’s ever going to be significant. So much hype, so little to back it up.
P.S. Apologies in advance if my opinion hurts anyone’s feelings.
If he’s healthy he’s a pretty good player. Still think he can make some all star games
Zion’s more than just pretty good when healthy.
Hard not get hyped about a 2nd year player averaging 27 a game on a .611 FGP.
Over 60 games and scoring only in the paint. Basically a shorter, fatter Dwight howard
We want to know how much he weighs ……
And no Knicks don’t want him ……
2019 NBA draft ——-
#1 pick — Zion …. 85 gms
#2 pick — Ja …. 179 gms
#3 pick — RJ ….178 GMs played
I’m sure the Knicks front office and team ownership would obviously disagree.
@Knick
There are Knicks front office staff rosterbating about acquiring Zion as we speak.
Zion is ripped rn don’t worry about his weight
He wouldn’ t be ripped even with special effects, that’s what delaying he’s healing
Ripped the scale lol
Williamson will gradually progress to full weight-bearing exercise and basketball activities.
That man needs to lose some weight.
He’s not coming back this season and I bet he doesn’t play a full season next season either
New Orleans is the wrong city to try and lose weight in. Holy crap the food is so good there
Send him to Phoenix. Just got back from there and not one of the restaurants we ate had food with any flavor. Don’t have to cover stuff in salt/pepper in Texas.
No, just Tabasco sauce.
Maybe he should play in England.
Yes Zion needs to lose some weight. It would probably help if he could do some full weight-bearing activities.
Just don’t fing eat man so much o so unhealthy man.
There’s a reason you ehave so much obesity in the US and it’s not lack of weight bearing activities.
Everyone said Embiid career was over after missing first 2 seasons. Now Embiid is a leading candidate for MVP. He will be fine
Maybe but it definitely seems like embid made an effort to get into shape. It’s yet to be determined if Zion will make that effort.
You realize Zion and Embiid are not the same person, right?? Nor did they have the same injury. Saying Zion will be alright just because Joel was is a flawed line of thinking.
Weak comparison since Embiid’s game isn’t predicted on insane athleticism, and insane athleticism packed into too small of a frame. Besides, a sample size of one is meaningless in and of itself.
He may be fine or he may be not fine. The point is given his body type, injury history thus far, and more limited game beyond maximizing said athleticism there is some case for concern here.
Nothing in his future would surprise me at this point, including him returning to good health. But with every new injury to his legs, the betting odds on that become a little bit lower.
Improved to 7 Big Macs per day.
Zion is a lock for the baby max contract!
If NOP don’t offer it to him one must wonder why on earth would they pick up a #1 & then not build around him, specially one that is a game changer!
Is that Greg Oden’s music I hear?!
Mass x inertia = Doritos TM
Would you really want to play for that dumpster fire of a organization he’s probably faking hoping to get trade or not extend so he can play for anyone one else
The only thing I have to say young man is always get the Diet Coke with the 13 Big Mac’s and 10 Whoppers
CJ Ingram and Zion is good big three. JV is good too. They have picks too.
Zion’s knock kneed legs are the problem. It all starts there. They have to figure out how to correct that or learn how to work around it.
Bingo.
He is kind of doomed to at least have to worry about shape more than most.
GM Griffen made a point of trying to learn how he might deal with his unique physicality, right after drafting him. Not sure if such management is doable, esp with guaranteed contracts.
@x%sure
Yes he does have to watch his weight but you have to have an understanding on the human anatomy and how knock kneed effects your legs. Even at regular weight he’s still a big muscular kid whos going to be putting a lot of stress on his lower extremities as a dynamic athlete whos running, jumping, cutting and landing at great speeds and force. It’s like driving a car whos tires aren’t aligned and aren’t properly inflated. you’re going to wear your damage your tires quicker.
Regardless of what some hypsters say here, this pick will go down as one of the worst #1, especially in comparison to Ja and the future he seems to have ahead of him.
This fats players are a rarity in Europe and was easy to predit this would turn bad.
NY wants no part of “The Michelin Man”
link to images.app.goo.gl