Things have not gone well for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2021-22 NBA season. They are currently second to last in the Western Conference with a record of 11-21, ahead of only the 10-22 Houston Rockets.
While the Rockets knew that they would do a lot of losing this season, as they embarked on a rebuild, the same cannot be said about the Pelicans. New Orleans was expected to challenge, at worst, for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
While they are only two games out of the last spot, this season is shaping up to be a disappointing one for New Orleans no matter how you cut it. While there are some bright spots, such as Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Jonas Valanciunas, the team has struggled mightily. The absence of Zion Williamson is as big of a reason as any that the season went downhill as fast as it did.
Williamson had surgery on his foot in the offseason and there was optimism that he would be ready for opening night. Not only did he not make it for opening night, but he also remains sidelined and no one knows when he will return.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Pelicans Announce Update On Zion Williamson’s Potential Return
While ramping up his rehab following a positive visit with a doctor in late November, Williamson began feeling some soreness in his surgically repaired foot. Not wanting to make it worse, as he had just reached doing some 4-on-4 work, the team scaled back his workload.
Unfortunately, that did not help, and Williamson received an injection in the foot. That meant he was back to low-impact training for at least another four to six weeks. There is a chance that Williamson does not see the court until February, at the earliest.
This injury is looking like it will keep him sidelined longer than the knee injury that delayed his debut in his rookie season. By the time he is ready to return, the Pelicans’ season could be down the drain.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Pelicans Announce Update On Zion Williamson’s Potential Return
But, even if that happens, the team would still like for Williamson to return to the court this season. It is a sentiment that Williamson seems to share according to Shams Charania, as he wants to get out here as well. Charania shared the update during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“From everything I’ve been told, the Pelicans do want him to play this season. I think Zion Williamson in his heart of hearts does want to play this year. So you have two parties that clearly want him back on the floor.”
LATEST NBA NEWS: Pelicans Announce Update On Zion Williamson’s Potential Return
While it is encouraging that Williamson wants to get back out on the floor, it is fair to question how much the New Orleans Pelicans would let him play. His foot injury is severe enough that it has kept him sidelined 32 games and counting.
In what is amounting to a lost season, New Orleans isn’t going to push him to play unless they are 100 percent sure he is healthy and ready to play in an NBA game.
