Just as the Pelicans looked like they were closing in on Zion Williamson’s return, it appears the star forward has suffered a setback.
Williamson has yet to prepare for New Orleans so far this season as he recovers from offseason foot surgery. The team originally announced on November 26 that it had been cleared to participate in full team activities, but Williamson has now been withdrawn from basketball activities once again.
What’s next for Williamson? Here’s everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he can return to the court.
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Timeline of Zion Williamson’s injury
It was revealed during the team’s press day that Williamson underwent surgery to repair a fractured right foot during the offseason. Williamson is said to have suffered the injury prior to the start of the 2023 NBA Summer League.
The Pelicans were initially hopeful that his timeline would “get him back on the court in time for the regular season.”
David Griffin on Zion’s injury update#Pelicans pic.twitter.com/5WjdV0VpVe
– New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 27, 2023
When could Zion Williamson come back from injury?
The Pelicans announced on Friday, November 26, that Williamson had been cleared to participate in full team activities. They also included a note that Williamson played 4v4 across the court in practice, which seemed like a big step in the right direction for the only All-Star.
Unfortunately, news broke on December 2 that Williamson was experiencing foot pain, delaying his return, and now the team has announced that they have shut it down completely.
“After experiencing persistent pain in her right foot, Zion Williamson underwent medical imaging that showed a regression in bone healing in her fifth metatarsal,” the Pelicans official statement stated on Dec. 11.
“As a result, the volume and intensity of your training will be reduced for an extended period to help allow for further bone healing. Additional updates will be provided as needed.”
It looks like we’re further away from Williamson’s return than originally expected, and with the Pelicans in last place in the Western Conference, there’s not much of a rush to get the young star back on the court.
Below you can find the Pelicans schedule for the next few weeks.
| Date | Adversary | Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday December 12 | in san antonio | 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday, December 15 | in oklahoma city | 8:00 PM |
| Friday, dec. 17 | against Milwaukee | 10:00 PM |
| Sunday December 19 | in philadelphia | 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday December 21 | against Portland | 8:00 PM |
| Thursday, Dec. 23 | in orlando | 7:00 PM |
| Sunday December 26 | in oklahoma city | 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday, December 28 | against Cleveland | 8:00 PM |
| Sat, Jan one | in Milwaukee | 6:30 PM |
| Wed, Jan. 3 | against Utah | 8:00 PM |
Zion Williamson’s Injury History
Williamson, chosen number one in the 2019 NBA Draft, was limited to 24 games in his rookie season after he underwent surgery to repair it. a torn right lateral meniscus.
Williamson appeared in 61 of 72 possible games in his sophomore season and won the first All-Star pick of his career with averages of 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He missed the last seven games of the season with a broken left ring finger.
