New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is ruled out of all star game due to injury. According to recent reports Zion will be reevaluated after the All- Star Break.
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans has agitated his earlier injured right hamstring, pushing his return date to “multiple weeks past the All-Star break,” according to basketball operations chief David Griffin on Sunday.
Griffin stated that Williamson is averaging 26 points this season, had progressed to the point where he could participate in 3-on-3 drills in practice and was on the court when he suffered his setback.
Griffin responded, “it’s fair to say not terribly well because he was diligent in his rehab.” “ This is an injury that has a very high incidence of recurrence,” Griffin said. “It’s nothing he did wrong to bring this about. It’s an injury that’s tricky and hard to navigate. I think you’ve seen other players around the league have those same re-incidences. It’s not unique.”
Since sustaining his first hamstring injury on January 2, Williamson has missed 20 straight games. He’ll have missed at least 27 games if he misses the first two weeks after the All-Star break.
Willie Green on Zion Williamson injury
The Pelicans have lost 12 of their 16 games without Williamson, but many of those contests were played without high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram. Ingram has scored 25 points or more in each of his last four games since returning to the starting lineup. The Pelicans have won three of their last four games, with their lone loss coming against a surging Cleveland team on a six-game winning streak.
The Pelicans’ plus point is that they literally still have their core players available today as they did during their playoff run last spring when Williamson was still recovering from a foot ailment that kept him out for the whole previous campaign.
New Orleans also traded veteran 6-5 guard Josh Richardson, who is in his sixth season and would likely aid New Orleans defensively, for 6-foot-1 reserve guard Devonte’ Graham during last week’s NBA trade deadline. As of Sunday, New Orleans is eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 29-28.
Coach of the Pelicans Willie Green remarked, “We all feel for Zion Williamson, dealing with these injuries. It’s a chance for the players to sort of unite and play their best basketball possible.
It’s critical for Williamson to “get into a healthy mental frame” right away, according to Green, who spent 12 seasons as an NBA player.
To give himself a chance to get back on the floor, Green said, it will be crucial for him to keep up his rehab efforts. “For the other guys. We’ve established a norm. We have a plan for our game. While Zion Williamson is away, the guys have to do it, and we all have to sort of band together.
The Pelicans’ progress without Williamson in the last season “helps our confidence,” “It not only provides us the belief, but the outcomes to know that we can accomplish it. “All we have to do is keep doing what we know we can do.” Green further stated.
