APRIL 7: Williamson is considered unlikely to return for the play-in tournament, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
APRIL 6: Pelicans team president David Griffin said on Thursday that injured New Orleans All-Star forward Zion Williamson will remain sidelined as he continues to rehabilitate his hamstring injury, the team has announced (Twitter link).
Given that the Pelicans have just two games left in the 2022/23 regular season, it appears Williamson will likely, though not definitely, be finished at least until the play-in tournament begins.
“After further evaluation, it has been determined that Zion Williamson will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning regimen,” Griffin said. “We will continue to monitor his progression, and updates will be provided as warranted.”
Notably absent from that statement is any kind of timeline estimate for Williamson’s return to action for the 41-39 Pelicans. The 6’6″ forward has struggled with his health for his entire pro career thus far, having appeared in just 114 of a possible 306 regular season contests for New Orleans.
This news puts a damper on the intel from a report earlier this week that appeared to indicate Williamson was pushing for a return before the end of the regular season. That report indicated that Williamson has progressed to “low-intensity” 3-on-3 workouts with coaches but has yet to graduate to 5-on-5 scrimmages. He has been absent since January 2 due to a strained right hamstring.
In the 29 games he did play this year, the 22-year-old produced at a high level, as a bulky, hyper-athletic driving threat who’s proven to be pretty much unstoppable in the paint. Williamson posted averages of 26.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.6 APG and 0.6 BPG.
At present, New Orleans is the eighth seed in a crowded Western Conference, just a game behind the fifth-seed Clippers and sixth-seeded Warriors. Should the Pelicans somehow skirt the play-in tournament and qualify for the playoffs outright, the team would enjoy a week-long break before its postseason would begin, presumably giving Williamson more of an opportunity to rejoin his teammates.
So you have to bail on this guy right
That’d be a pretty dumb thing to do. The Pelicans have way too much invested in Zion, he has a lot of potential if he can stay on the court and he’s played on 20 more games then Embiid did in his first four seasons.
Patience paid off with Embiid, the Pelicans kinda have have patience with Williamson.
Let’s say Pels are really gelling and they’re in a spot like the Cavs. Do you move Zion for a piece to get you to the next level? Or keep holding on?
“if he can stay on the court”
The first step is always denial
Embiid had a ‘type’ of injury. Williamson ‘is’ an injury.
Bailing on a 22 yo Zion sounds like a moron move
Imagine if Portland cashed in on Greg Oden when they could have? Or if the Bucks did with Jabari Parker? Or Philly with Fultz or Simmons? Or even the Bulls with Derrick Rose? History shows that holding on to broken players is the actual moron move. But hey I’m just speaking facts.
Sure, holding onto Embiid was a total mistake.
Omg you really trumped me with your one example compared to my five. Way to take the wind right out of my sails.
I guess I got to give you a little credit for having a handicap argument during the Masters. I always appreciate little innuendo.
I’m glad we finally agree!
Philly didn’t give Fulks a chance. They gave Simmons,Noel and Joel time off……
Please don’t muddy the waters with facts.
ben simmons rookie card should be priceless compared to zion.
Unlike Simmons at least Zion isn’t afraid of dunking or afraid of taking a jump shot.
What a mistake is Zion salary contract.
Never pay Fat athletes.
Zion isn’t a fat athlete, so why would this comment have any relevance? Dude is pure muscle. Zion’s physique is like prime Karl Malone.
Fat athlete??? Have you seen the guy? He’s shredded. What’s your definition of fat?
He’s also a happy meal away from losing it, too.
Fat athletes + fat chicks = no Bueno
In other news – water is wet
Fat athlete??? Have you seen the guy? He’s shredded. What’s your definition of fat?
What a dumb comment bloodfarts, but your user name is bloodfarts…..
Dude is either super lazy or hates New Orleans.
Dude, don’t come down on yourself so hard!
Just passion to get that money
I know I’m not the only on here looking forward to watching Zion play his obligatory 15 games next season!
Oh No !!
I would never want a 6’6 PF. Not even Barkley. Morant was a much better choice
While Williamson isn’t fat in the American sense (e.g. 5’5″/ 350 lbs.), he has the wrong body type for playing a hardwood floor sport like basketball at a professional level.
He might look “shredded” to the average, usually overweight American but he isn’t as defined as comparable pro athletes. His body fat probably hovers around 15 to 20 percent, when it should be more like 5 to 7 percent. That means he could lose up to 45 lbs. of fat from that 300 lbs. frame alone, not even mentioning his excess muscle mass.
Williamson’s injury history serves as undeniable evidence that he is too heavy for the sport.
Ever heard of Shaquille Oneal?
The guy who was plagued by injuries during eight of his 19 NBA seasons? Yeah, I’ve heard of him.
Besides, Shaq was an old-school back-to-the-basket center while Williamson is a mobile forward in today’s NBA.
You’re comparing apples with oranges.
Early in Shaq’s career he ran that floor full sprint. His LSU days as well as Magic tenure. They didn’t call him “diesel” for nothing.
All these people rushing in with fat jokes for likes and clout…
Why would you wish anything but top health for this guy? He is awesome to watch. Plus it keeps a small market team interesting which is always good for the sport. Maybe come with messages of support instead of being so callous.
Some of yall make me really sick.
Zion will never play in the NBA. At this weight. And with this gm. The stress on his joints will never hold up. As we have ALL witnessed it since he came into NBA.
I’ve said it since he got drafted. He needs a chef. And needs to change his diet. He has the talent to be an all star. But what good is that if you CAN’T play.
Pelicans are fools to invest in this BS. Just like he tore up that sneaker in college. That’s the pressure his joints face when he plays ball. Got nothing to do with being fat. Either he wants a career. Or steal money for a career. Or Pelicans take a stand and get control of his career. Cause this AIN’T working …….
He’s already taken the lebron approach
The guy plagued by injuries? Dafuq you talking? Him being injured in his 30s like practically every NBA player?
In 3 yrs in college he missed 3 games. In his first 4 years in the NBA he missed 4 games. So in his first 7 years he avg 1 missed game a season. How many NBA players today an even go 1 season missing only 1 game? Stop the nonsense
Zion is nothing like Shaq. If he was. He’d be Wes Unseld and could play 13 yrs. He hasn’t helped his team do anything. Wes won Titles and guarded true Bigs. And Wes is listed as lighter than Zion. Both the same size ……
link to basketball-reference.com
Maybe Zion should be more like Shaq. The league isnt filled with big defensive Centers like it was back in Shaqs days. There are only a handful full of Centers that could handle Zion backing them down.
Zion can overpower any 3 or 4 even centers. But his gm is about power with fluidity and quickness. He plays like a wing with power. Physically our bodies can’t take that for 82 gms. Plus playoffs. Wes Unseld was a HOF Center lol. And he’s actually a bit smaller than Zion. All I’m saying is his gm. With that body. Will never last. Needs to be an old school 4 and post. Or stay under 245lbs.
I like you bringing up a legend