The Pelicans won’t have Zion Williamson available if they advance to Friday’s play-in game or even a first-round series against the Suns, the team told Cassidy Hubbarth of ESPN (hat tip to RealGM).
Williamson hasn’t been ruled out for the season, but a Pelicans spokesperson informed Hubbarth that “a return to play is not imminent.”
Williamson, who hasn’t played since having offseason surgery on a fracture in his right foot, raised some eyebrows with a 360 dunk during warm-ups before tonight’s game (video link). Although he looked as explosive as ever, the Pelicans don’t believe he’s ready for game action.
The No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft has advanced to the point in rehab where he can participate in controlled scrimmages with teammates and assistant coaches. There has been hope among Pelicans fans that he could return to boost the team’s playoff chances, but tonight’s report makes that seem unlikely unless New Orleans can somehow win a series or two.
Huh. Didn’t I read a few days ago he’s gonna play and be ready for the playoffs
That would make him done for the season because the Pelicans even with Zion would be hard pressed without time to ramp him up and get a little bit of time to gel with C.J.
I don’t know if any of the team said that or just his step dad talking him up .
GM Griffin has held ZW back steadily.
They showed a very short clip on tv with him moving/dunking. It should not have been so short. They spent more time just showing him sitting on the sidelines doing nothing while Doris Burke bloviated.
BTW While the NBA has shown these play-in games on obscure stations, boo, much credit goes to the pirate stations, yay, for not often dumping the connection.
TBS isn’t even a station anymore. I don’t know what it is. Hulu lied about carrying it without their premium package. Anyway I tried to pay or get the Turner group.
Fubo had the games.
360 slam Dunkin’ Donuts.
You’ve heard of 40 water, now here’s 30 dozen.
They just wanted to say he’s not damaged good and deserve rookie max extension. No extension. Let him play and earn it next yr!
Meanwhile, Ja is playing…
What the heck is going on with that dumpster fire of franchise, I mean every time he or his close people gives a positive statement they run to make a negative one… so far in his career seems that NOP does all it can to not letting him play!
No wonder the kid wants out of there ASAP!
#LetZionPlay
If Zion is brought back for these playoffs at any point the entire front office should be fired on the spot.