Zion Williamson — New Orleans Pelicans
Entering the 2021-22 NBA season, many believed the New Orleans Pelicans were going to be the “Breakout Team of the Year,” but that has not been the case so far. The Pelicans are an NBA worst 1-11 on the season and they have not had Zion Williamson for a single minute this season.
In the offseason, Zion Williamson suffered a broken right foot and while the injury was downplayed at first, more and more information is now coming out about this injury and what it means for the Pelicans moving forward.
Near the start of the season, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that there was talk within the league that many within the Pelicans’ front office were kept “in the dark” about Zion Williamson’s injury and they found out right before media day on September 27.
Whether they knew or not, Zion Williamson had undergone surgery in the offseason and there was not much they could do about it. He was deemed out to begin the season as he continued to progress and rehab from this injury, but it is now the middle of November and there still does not seem to be a clear timeline on when we can expect the All-Star big man back.
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Sources have confirmed to NBA Analysis Network that Zion Williamson has been at the team facility daily and is beginning to get back in shape to make his season debut, but there still does not appear to be any potential date of return laid out.
If a wild guess was to be made when Zion Williamson will make his debut, December is a pretty strong guess, but right now, his status is very up-in-the-air moving forward particularly because the Pelicans do not want to rush him back given his extensive injury history both in the NBA and in college.
Prior to joining New Orleans in the NBA, Zion suffered a right knee injury after stepping so hard that he blew out his shoe, and then when the Pelicans drafted him No. 1 overall in 2019, Zion Williamson suffered a torn right meniscus and only played in 24 games his rookie season as a result.
From knee soreness to knee surgery to a thumb injury last season and now this foot injury, it is just one thing after another for Zion Williamson and his NBA career. There is definitely some long-term fear within the Pelicans organization right now that these injuries could be lingering things that stay with Zion his entire career, which is why New Orleans has been careful with their approach.
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The Pelicans are optimistic that their All-Star forward will be ready to go sometime in December, but no official update other than “Zion Williamson is getting closer and closer,” has been given by head coach Willie Green.
