Pelicans Injury Report: Zion Williamson’s Availability May Hamper Struggling New Orleans’ Efforts to “Get it Together”

Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans‘ star, has remained relatively injury-free this season. That is not to say he wasn’t affected by them. A highly touted Duke prospect, Williamson was the unicorn player that people came to watch. Standing at 6’6 and 284 pounds, Zion is not your traditional basketball player. And yet he packed a punch whenever he took the floor.

But it was this powerful frame that was his Achilles heel, too. The simple truth of the matter was he was susceptible to injuries. Highly susceptible. And it seems like the Pelicans’ next matchup against the Knicks will also see a similar situation.

The latest injury report tweeted by the official X handle of the New Orleans Pelicans has Williamson, along with CJ McCollum listed as QUESTIONABLE.

Williamson has a left foot contusion while a left ankle sprain sidelined McCollum. The Pelicans backcourt were already short-handed in their loss to the Bulls previously. But it was the Heat that snapped their four-game winning streak after a tightly contested game took a turn for the worse in the fourth quarter. Along with Jimmy Butler, five players in total were ejected and suspended with heavy fines for the nasty tussle!

The Pelicans are the sixth-seeded team in the West with a 34-24 record. Although the 2020-21 season saw him play 61 games, this season is by far the best in terms of consistency. Out of the 58 games this season, Williamson has played in 47.

Zion Williamson vs Stephen A. Smith

In the NBA, Kawhi Leonard is credited with being the most injury-addled player. But when healthy, he is one of the most lethal and dangerous players ever. Much like ‘Zanos’. The 2x All-Star’s highlight dunks are a fan favorite and when he is on the court, it’s quite electric. But his solid frame often proves to be a block to posting the kind of numbers basketball pundits had projected initially.

Read More: “It’s Baffling”: 11-Year NBA Veteran Blasts 284Lb Zion Williamson Over Weight Issues

While many analysts have spoken at length on the same, Stephen A. Smith’s latest comments on Zion’s eating habits have wreaked havoc. The Pelicans’ X handle had hit back with a troll video highlighting Smith’s unflattering moments and the final nail in the coffin – his college basketball stat sheet. Not one to stay quiet, Stephen A. returned the courtesy in kind with a 10-minute-long rant on his Stephen A. Smith Show. 

Not even an hour went by before the Pelicans hit back with another post on X. The First Take commentator had advised the Pelicans to “get it together” and focus on winning rather than creating troll videos. Anyway, the Pelicans do have to make some decisions come off-season.

With the former #1 pick being the most important player for his team, it leaves the man in question with much food for thought.