An MRI has indicated that Pelicans wing Naji Marshall suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextended right knee in a preseason fame, per a press release from the team.
The 6’7″ small forward injured his knee during the second quarter of the club’s 110-105 loss to the Hawks Saturday night. He was carted off in a wheelchair. After the game, head coach Willie Green told reporters that a hyperextension was the initial diagnosis, though he noted imaging was forthcoming.
The bone bruise is a bit more serious, and Marshall is set to be re-evaluated in two weeks, meaning he will miss at least the first couple contests of the Pelicans’ 2023/24 season.
Marshall enjoyed his highest-scoring season yet last year with the Pelicans, averaging 9.1 PPG, along with 3.6 RPG, 2.5 APG and 0.7 SPG. He will be missed, especially at a time when New Orleans is hurting for healthy bodies heading into the year.
New Orleans, which was relatively snake-bitten after a promising start last season with injuries to star forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, has been without point guard Jose Alvarado and forward Larry Nance Jr. for its entire preseason due to ankle ailments. Last month, small forward Trey Murphy underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus, so he’ll be sidelined well into the season.
Poor pels man can never catch a break