Zion Williamson’s Hamstring Woes Continue to Haunt the Pelicans
It’s another tough break for the New Orleans Pelicans and their star forward, Zion Williamson. According to sources who spoke with ESPN on Friday, Williamson is “not remotely close” to returning to action after suffering a left hamstring strain earlier this season. The injury, which occurred on November 6, has already kept him sidelined for weeks, and it looks like the wait for his return will stretch even longer.
Williamson has reportedly undergone multiple treatments on the hamstring, but the road to recovery is proving to be a long one. Initially, the Pelicans had hoped to see their star back on the court within four to six weeks, which would have put his return somewhere around mid-December. However, sources now suggest that his absence could extend well beyond that timeline as he continues to rehabilitate a body part that has been a recurring issue throughout his career.
So far this season, Williamson has only managed to suit up for six of the Pelicans’ 16 games. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that had high hopes for the 6-foot-6, 284-pound power forward, especially since team officials believed he was in the best shape of his career heading into the season. Unfortunately, injuries have been a recurring theme for Williamson since he was selected first overall out of Duke in the 2019 NBA Draft. To date, he has missed a staggering 210 out of a possible 400 regular-season games.
Injuries Piling Up for the Pelicans
It’s not just Zion who’s been bitten by the injury bug this season. The Pelicans have been dealing with a laundry list of setbacks to key players, making it nearly impossible for the team to find any rhythm. Their big offseason acquisition, Dejounte Murray, fractured his hand in the season opener, and the hits just kept coming. CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Jose Alvarado have all missed time due to various injuries.
As a result, the Pelicans have struggled mightily to stay competitive. With a 4-12 record, they currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, holding the second-worst record in the conference. The team has lost three straight games and nine of their last 10, a skid that has fans and analysts alike wondering if this season is already slipping away.
What’s Next for New Orleans?
The Pelicans are set to face the Golden State Warriors in an NBA Cup game on Friday night, but the outlook remains grim without their key players. The team’s depth has been tested to its limits, and while there’s still time to turn things around, the road ahead looks daunting.
For Zion Williamson, the focus remains on getting healthy and staying healthy. The Pelicans have invested heavily in their young star, and his ability to stay on the court will be crucial to the team’s long-term success. But with his history of injuries, it’s fair to wonder if the Pelicans will ever get to see the full potential of the player they once believed could be a franchise cornerstone.
Key Takeaways
- Zion Williamson has been sidelined since November 6 with a left hamstring strain and is “not remotely close” to returning, according to sources.
- Williamson has only played in six of the Pelicans’ 16 games this season and has missed 210 out of 400 possible regular-season games since being drafted in 2019.
- The Pelicans are 4-12, holding the second-worst record in the Western Conference, and have lost nine of their last 10 games.
- Injuries to key players like Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and others have further derailed the team’s season.
As the Pelicans continue to navigate this challenging stretch, fans can only hope that better days are ahead. But for now, the team’s struggles—and Zion’s ongoing absence—remain the dominant storyline in New Orleans.
Originally Written by: Shams Charania
