New Orleans Pelicans star center Zion Williamson has entered the conditioning phase of his recovery from a left hamstring strain and is anticipated to resume practice next week, as per an announcement by the team on Tuesday. Williamson, currently considered week-to-week, has been out of action since November 6. The acclaimed two-time All-Star has participated in just six games this season, maintaining impressive averages of 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
Originally chosen as the top overall pick by New Orleans in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson’s tenure with the Pelicans has been plagued by a series of injuries, beginning with a torn meniscus suffered during his rookie year’s preseason. Despite his undeniable talent, the young player has encountered challenges, having only appeared in 190 career games over the span of five seasons while also missing the entirety of the 2021-22 season. Throughout his career thus far, Williamson has maintained noteworthy statistics, with averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.