Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin announced on Thursday that Zion Williamson would remain out indefinitely as he continues to deal with a right hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined since January 2.
According to Christian Clark of NOLA.com, Griffin clarified on Friday that Williamson will not suit up for the play-in tournament, and he might miss a potential first-round playoff series as well.
“I would just say that if you looked at the logistics of where we are at, it’s not possible to get the work in that would put him in a 5-on-5 workout in time for any play-in,” Griffin said. “Based on today, our best possible outcome would be if everything lined up perfectly, maybe you’re in a position to practice prior to a first round. Or maybe during a first round. But it’s going to take more than one, right? It’s really hard. We may never get to that point, either. If it’s not a situation where those things align and he feels the way he needs to feel, we’re not going to let him go to the next phase.”
Williamson had a setback in February, which delayed his return to the court. Griffin said the All-Star forward hasn’t experienced another setback since then, but he lacks confidence in the hamstring.
Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:
- Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown cut his right hand and had to get five stitches as he was picking up a glass vase he broke while watering his plants on Thursday night, tweets Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Brown expects to be ready for the playoffs, Weiss adds.
- Bucks forward Khris Middleton had an MRI on Thursday after he aggravated a right knee injury, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. Nothing showed up on the imaging and Middleton is expected to rehab for the next week “in hopes of being ready” for the postseason, according to Charania. While it’s a positive development that the MRI was clean, Charania’s wording suggests it’s no lock that Middleton will be healthy when the playoffs start on April 15.
- Lakers guard Dennis Schröder was ruled out of Friday’s matchup with Phoenix due to “extreme neck soreness” that stemmed from “general wear and tear,” head coach Darvin Ham told reporters, including Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link). The team had previously listed Schröder as questionable due to neck spasms.
- Suns center Bismack Biyombo was in a lot of pain and needed assistance to leave the court after taking knee-to-knee contact in Friday’s matchup with the Lakers. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest with a right knee injury, as Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports relays (All Twitter links).
Suspicious amount of detail on the Jaylen Brown injury. Also — neck soreness from “general wear and tear?” Lol mf sounds like he’s trying to get back a security deposit.
It’s playoff time, baby!
At Zions size it will be a recurring issue this lack of confidence in an injury to the legs of any kind…
He’s just not built to put his body through the punishment of the hardwood…
If he has 1 82 game regular season in his career I will be shocked…
If lebron would have one full season of 82 games then I would be surprised too
Is lebron your boyfriend? What does this have to do with zion?
Who rushed to defend the boyfriend?
At this point 50 games would be good
The year that the Bucks won the title and then Middleton played in the Olympics a few weeks later put him into his current injury spiral. He has yet to come out of it. Bucks need him but he is on the wrong side of 30. I don’t know if the Bucks can win it all without some decent version of him on the court.
I think the key is to manage his minutes in the early rounds. They can easily give Crowder, Ingles or Connaughton more minutes especially with the uptick in offensive production from Holiday and Lopez.
Yeah I agree Bucks need Middleton to go all the way. Good news about MRI. Cause that knee has been an issue for awhile now. I would rest and rehab thru 1st rd too. Make sure he can give mins after.
Do we really need updates about Zion. Why would you even risk him playing now. Another lost yr. And now you are on the hook for next 5yrs, 193 million. Brilliant
I’ll give the Pelicans credit if they are lucky enough to survive the Play-ins.
I think Lakers/Wolves will end up with the playoff berths.
Vanderbilt/Healthy Davis is a versatile front court defensively. Could be hard to handle in the playoffs