Zion Williamson can’t catch a break. The Pelicans All-Star has suffered a setback in his recovery from offseason foot surgery, pushing back his return time indefinitely.
“After experiencing persistent soreness in his right foot, Zion Williamson underwent medical imaging which showed a regression in the bone healing of his fifth metatarsal,” the team announced Saturday. “As a result, the volume and intensity of his training will be reduced for an extended period to help allow for further bone healing.”
The former Duke one-and-done had recently resumed practicing in anticipation of his return, though now that will obviously have to wait. Williamson has dominated when healthy, averaging 25.7 points on elite 60.4-percent shooting over his past two seasons. However, that’s rarely been the case for the 6’6” forward, who has constantly encountered injuries, appearing in just 85 of New Orleans’ 172 games (49.4 percent) since arriving as the first pick in the 2019 Draft.
Despite the brilliance he’s shown in spurts including last season when he served as the Pelicans’ lone All-Star representative, Williamson’s early career has been plagued by durability and conditioning issues, with particular attention being paid to the 21-year-old’s recent weight gain (ESPN’s Zach Lowe hinted he’s approaching 330 pounds). There have also been whispers Williamson may not be long for New Orleans with many wondering if he’ll become the first player to turn down a max extension from the team he was drafted by.
The Pelicans have predictably struggled without Zion, limping to a dismal 8-20 record—worst in the Western Conference—under rookie coach Willie Green. Without him, New Orleans will continue to lean heavily on former second overall pick Brandon Ingram, their leading scorer at 22.7 points per game.
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