The New Orleans Pelicans came into the season with some high hopes. They believed they would challenge for a playoff spot with the roster that they had constructed, but the team has fallen well short of those expectations. That is because their star power forward, Zion Williamson, hasn’t played in a game yet this season.
Williamson injured his foot in the offseason and there was some optimism that he would be ready to go for opening night. We are now approaching the All-Star break and there is no light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to Williamson playing in games.
He looked like he was close to getting back onto the court after Thanksgiving as he was ramping up his activity in practice. Unfortunately, he began experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired foot so he scaled back the workouts.
It is almost three months later and Zion Williamson doesn’t seem any closer to getting on the court. As shared per NOLA.com, he could not get on the court at all this season as a second surgery is being considered.
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“Williamson was supposed to return to practice in December, but he began experiencing soreness in his right foot. That month, he flew to Los Angeles to have an injection to promote healing. It is possible he will need a second surgery on his right foot, sources said, but nothing has been decided.”
Injuries are going to seemingly plague Williamson throughout his career. He dealt with them in college at Duke and every season since he has been with the New Orleans Pelicans. When he is on the court he is a force to deal with, but the team cannot count on him to consistently be healthy.
He has played in only 85 games thus far in his career, missing 117 and counting. The best ability for professional athletes is availability and that isn’t something Williamson has been able to provide in his three-year career thus far.
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His injury, combined with Brandon Ingram missing time, led to a dreadful 3-16 start on the season. Since that point, they have gone 20-19, so there is some hope nonetheless even without Williamson for this team to make a push for at least a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The acquisition of CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. at the deadline will certainly improve those chances. They are a single game behind the 10th place Portland Trail Blazers and five behind the eighth-place LA Clippers.
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There is certainly enough time for the Pelicans to make a run, as McCollum and Ingram are a strong enough duo to compete with the aforementioned two teams, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Sacramento Kings, the other teams vying for a play-in spot.
But, long-term, this is something the New Orleans Pelicans have to be extremely concerned about. If they want to reach the levels they feel they are capable of, they need Zion Williamson in the lineup and producing more than he has been thus far in his career.
