New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson received a devastating injury update following an MRI scan, which the team announced on Wednesday. The scan revealed a hamstring strain for the former Duke Blue Devil.
Pelicans Star Receives Devastating Injury Update
Earlier on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that Williamson is dealing with a hamstring issue and will miss their play-in game against the Kings on Friday. The Pelicans have now confirmed he is dealing with a left hamstring strain, and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks. The winner of Friday’s game will secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round series against the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain. An MRI taken this morning confirmed the injury. Williamson will be re-examined in approximately two weeks. pic.twitter.com/efY3f2Kq0X
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 17, 2024
The injury puts him out for at least the first four games of a first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder if they secure the eighth seed on Friday.
How it Happened
Zion Williamson got injured in the Pelicans’ 110-106 loss to the Lakers. He was having one of the best games of his five-year career in his postseason debut. He posted a stat line of 40 points on 17-for-27 shooting, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Zion got injured on a layup to tie the game at 95 apiece with 3:19 left on the clock. He had to leave the game to head to the locker room, throwing a towel to the floor in disgust at the injury.
Two days prior, the Lakers held him to just 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting in a lackluster regular-season closer. The Pels could have clinched the sixth seed in the NBA playoffs on Sunday, but a 124-108 loss to the Lakers set up Tuesday night’s rematch in the play-in.
“Obviously a tough loss for us,” said Willie Green. “We’ve got to feel this one tonight and regroup and get ready for another one.” “He settled into the game. He just continued to attack. He found seams. He rebounded the ball. He played fast,” Green continued. “(If) we have him for a few more minutes, maybe we have a chance to pull this thing out.”
Cruel fate
This injury comes out of left field for Zion. He has appeared in 70 games this season, easily his career-high. He has been in the best shape of his career, losing 25 pounds during the season.
What’s more unfortunate is the type of injury. It’s a hamstring injury, an injury he has had only once in his career. It’s been his foot that’s been problematic throughout his career. He missed the 2021/22 season dealing with a foot injury. It has appeared 11 times on the Pels’ injury report.
This injury opens up uncomfortable questions about the long-term viability of building a team around Zion. He has dealt with a plethora of injuries throughout his career. His contract has an games played threshold.
As Seerat Sohi of the Ringer aptly wrote in her piece: What if his fate was written into his very name? Zion. The highest point, the promised land, some mythical utopia. The good place. The place that cannot be. With the franchise’s hopes for success resting on his broad shoulders, one can only hope he ages like fine wine.
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